Considering Third Party | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

Considering Third Party

What if voting third party in the November election wasn't a wasted vote?

11
Considering Third Party

It's November 2016. You walk in to the voting booth and take a deep breath. It's time.

It's time to vote for the president of the United States, the person that will lead the country for the next four to eight years.

It's time to vote for the face of the United States, the person who will speak for us to the rest of the world.

So you pull out your pen or pencil and stare down at the ballot. You have the obvious choices, the ones you hear mentioned on the radio and TV on a daily basis, and the ones that, no matter how hard you try, you can't escape from -- Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. It seems that you know everything about both candidates, both good and bad.

Even after the months and months of listening to presidential candidate ads, researching candidate positions, and watching the debates, you still aren't really sure who is the better choice.

Or maybe you do have an idea of who you would be better -- but you know they're still not the best.

It's possible that you believe that, no matter who you vote for this election, it's a vote for the lesser evil.

So you look down the page, skim pass Hillary and Donald, and see a few more candidates. Depending on what state you're in, you might see Jill Stein, Green Party Candidate. You will have the option for a write-in candidate and you might choose to "Feel the Bern" and write-in Bernie Sanders. But there is also one other candidate that will be on the ballot in all fifty states this year -- Gary Johnson, Libertarian Party Candidate.

You stare at these other options. You want, so badly, to find someone new, someone that will be better for the United States than you know Trump or Clinton will be. Unfortunately, you know very little about the other options. You really didn't hear anything about the other candidates on the radio or TV. Besides, they have no chance of winning.

So you vote for the lesser of two evils.

But here's the thing -- you may have voted, but are you really, truly happy with your choice? You may be under the impression that if you don't vote Clinton or Trump, you're actually throwing your vote away. Or, even worse, you're actually voting for the opposite party's candidate.

You may think that. Millions of people across the United States think the same. They believe that if they vote for Gary Johnson or Jill Stein or write in Bernie Sanders, their votes won't count.

But let's think another way. Let's imagine that every person who believes their third party vote won't matter actually did vote third party. What would happen then? Who would win the election?

It may not be one of the lesser of the two evils that you're struggling with right now.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

184009
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

10503
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

454762
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

24645
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments