Would you vote third party if it didn't negatively effect the election?

1. 57

   Snøwmanposted 9 years ago

   Would you vote third party if it didn't negatively effect the election?
   
   In any election, would you vote third party if you didn't have the risk of the guy you didn't want having a better chance of winning because you wasted you vote on a third party candidate?

   replyreport
2. 89

   Kathleen Odenthalposted 9 years ago

   I vote for third party candidates more often than not. You don't have to vote for a winner for your vote to count. In America, all parties that get at least 10% of the vote get extra funding for the next election, meaning third parties can have a bigger presence if they can get above 10% of the votes.

   replyreport
   1. 57

      Snøwmanposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks for answering, I didn't know that about third party candidates. I also vote third party often. Usually the constitution party.

      replyreport
   2. 63

      Alyson Modlinposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      It's 5% of the vote for third parties to receive funding

      replyreport
3. 78

   junksellerposted 9 years ago

   I vote third party, because the first and second parties are terrible and don't in any meaningful way represent me, and regardless of the winner makes little substantive difference.
   
   I also consider my vote to be a near complete waste. I am under no illusion that it really matters. Our system is massively supportive of the two-party stranglehold and a sub-10% vote is never going to sway that one bit.
   
   But I can sleep at night a little better knowing that there isn't a single joke of a politician in Washington pulling a paycheck with my vote attached to them and that is worth a little bit I guess.

   replyreport
   1. 57

      Snøwmanposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Great answer. It's like what the libertarian guy said in the last election. "You think voting third party is wasting your vote!? I'll tell you what wasting you vote is! It's voting for someone you don't believe in!"

      replyreport
4. 84

   tsmogposted 9 years ago

   I tend to go with voting is always a positive action. When one does not vote in essence they do vote by default for the winning candidate or etc. When all is said and done if one does not vote, then the opportunity of difference was never cast. So, logic says the 'uncast' vote is of the winning majority. If one does not wish for such and such to be the winner, then vote for anyone else. Of course that is my humble view.
   
   So, yes, I would vote third party especially if I do not prefer the two major party candidates as I wish a vote of difference . . . and every 'vote' . . . even uncast votes do count.

   replyreport