Why we shouldn’t be afraid to vote third-party

 

Cindy Cuadra/Staff writer

 

For as long as anyone can remember, the United States has always held a two-party  bipartisan system. In fact, American history shows that no third-party candidate has ever won a U.S. presidential election.

According to an article written by CNN in 2010, the closest that the United States has ever been to a third-party candidate was in 1912, when Teddy Roosevelt left the Republican party. So what happens when the popular majority do not like either one of the candidates from the two major parties?

In late July, the Democratic and Republican National conventions took place on their respective dates and cities. Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton, and Republican nominee, Donald Trump, were officially elected at each convention to represent their party for the presidential race.

According to an article by Fortune published in June by Ed O’Brien, an assistant professor of behavioral science at the University of Chicago, and post-doctoral student, Nadav Klein, who studied from the University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are the most disliked presidential candidates in American history. The article said that America’s dissatisfaction is plentiful and has been reflecting in polling for the two candidates time and time again.  

While each presidential candidate has their committed supporters, in this 2016 election, more people feel conflicted as to who to vote for.

The Washington Post published an article by Amanda Skuldt in August that questioned whether it was ethical to “vote one’s conscious.” Skuldt debated if voting for a third-party candidate such as Libertarian Gary Johnson, or Green Party candidate, Jill Stein, would be “wasted votes,” and if voting for one candidate who is perceived to be “the lesser of the two evils” is the right thing to do. I would argue that in the end, however, whichever candidate Americans vote for, it is still a conscious decision.

Voting for a third-party candidate shouldn’t be considered a wasted vote. Americans shouldn’t have to pick “the lesser of the two evils” if there are other candidates that can win the election with the right amount of support.

If we want to change the same two-party system scenario, then we shouldn’t be afraid to step out of the comfort zone and show support for the candidate we want to see become the next president. This two-party system has prevented most Americans from seeing past a Democrat or Republican leader.

The focus on only two major parties takes away the middle ground that might be necessary in order to see things in a limited perspective. It may also alleviate the feeling of just settling and voting for a candidate, with uncertainty that they will be ideal.

If Americans do not want to be fixed on just two major candidates and parties, the time is now to start making progress toward putting more focus on the multi-party system that we are lucky enough to have.

By putting an emphasis on a multi-party system, it widens Americans’ perception when they choose a candidate. According to Paul Richardson, a contributing writer for the Huffington Post, wrote an article in June saying that this is not the election to vote for a third-party. But if not now, then when?

It should not be considered unethical to vote for who you truly believe will make a good president, whether that is a third-party candidate or one from the two main parties. Staying well informed by researching all candidates is important, and allows for better decision making and clarity when casting a vote.

Despite having your ideal candidate not get nominated, as the “Bernie or Bust” supporters experienced, Americans should still keep an open mind and vote for whoever remaining best fits their ideals.

Voting is the voice we are given to choose who we want and don’t want as leaders. Thus, abstaining from voting takes away your contribution to your future and should not be an option.

Because we live in a democracy and have the luxury to vote for whoever we want, without any consequences, the most important thing an American can do during the election is to vote.

 

DISCLAIMER:

The opinions presented within this page do not represent the views of FIU Student Media Editorial Board. These views are separate from editorials and reflect individual perspectives of contributing writers and/or members of the University community.

 

Image by League of Women Voters, retrieved from Flickr:
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