As everyone knows, the United States is mired in a two-party system. The two main political parties in the United States are the Democrats and the Republicans. However, there are a large number of third parties as well. Some of them are well known, others not so much. Here is a list of a few of them. I am not trying to tell you how to vote or to vote third party; I just want to inform you about these options.
Libertarian Party
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Candidate: Gary Johnson/Bill Weld
Ballot Access: Option in all 50 States
Info: The Libertarian Party is the largest third party in the United States. Their biggest focus is limiting the power of the federal government. Many libertarians support things like gay marriage, drug legalization, noninterventionism, and abortion rights, while others defer to states to make decisions on those issues. However, many libertarians also believe in abolishing many government regulations as well as the social welfare system. They believe that the free market will do a better job at these things than the government. They're the perfect party for all of you "fiscally conservative but socially liberal" types.
Green Party
Candidate: Jill Stein/Ajamu Baraka
Ballot Access: Option in 44 States. Write-In in 3 States
Info: The Green Party is a grassroots, environmentalist party with major focuses in social justice and nonviolence. The Green Party wants no more wars for the United States and wants it put a much larger effort into ending the energy crisis instead. They believe in a grassroots approach to politics, believing in community-based economics rejecting donations from PACs and any corporate influence of government in general. However, there is an anti-science fringe of the party that is anti-GMO, anti-nuclear, and anti-vaccine, and that refuses to hear any research on it. The Green Party is also great for those of you who just REALLY want to smoke weed without losing stuff libertarians want to give to the free market.
Constitution Party
Ballot Access: Option in 24 states, Write-in in 19 States
Candidate: Darrell Castle/Scott Bradley
Info: The Constitution Party wants to return the United States to its Constitutional roots. However, they also believe in bringing back the federal government by turning the United into Christian-based government, just like the Founders definitely intended. They're preamble refers to Jesus as "Creator, Preserver Before the rise of Donald Trump, the Constitution Party definitely was "the Republican Party on steroids." If you want all the radical elements of the GOP, without The Donald™, this is your party.
Reform Party
Ballot Access: Unclear (Many lawsuits to get onto different ballots.)
Candidate: Rocky de la Fuente/Michael Steinberg
Info: Once the proud child of H. Ross Perot, the Reform Party has fallen into the ranks of the third parties that came closest to breaking the bipartisan divide. The Reform Party's biggest planks are a Balanced Budget Amendment, campaign finance reform, Congressional term limits, and the abolishment of the Electoral College. The Party, however, takes no stance on social issues, allowing candidates to form their own position, which could lead you to greatly conflict with the candidate who's trying to be Ross Perot.
Peace and Freedom Party
Ballot Access: Califonia
Candidate: Gloria La Riva/Dennis Banks
Info: A leftist party founded in the wake of the Vietnam War, the Peace and Freedom Party is a party built on the foundations of democratic socialism, ecology, and gender and racial equality. They are strong leftists both socially and economically. They are notable for having famed election spoiler Ralph Nader as their candidate in 2008 and famed comedian Roseanne Barr in 2012.
Prohibition Party
Ballot Access: Arkansas, Colorado, Mississippi
Candidate: Jim Hedges/Bill Bays
Info: If you want a return of the ban on alcohol along with the rest of your social conservativism, then this party is right for you. However, they are a really minor party, earning 518 votes last election. Really, the only thing that makes them notable enough for this list the fact that they've consistently run candidates every Presidential election since 1872, and although they've declined, they're still going at it.
Transhumanist Party
Ballot Access: None
Candidate: Zoltan Istvan
Info: Even though they have no ballot access, I felt that the Transhumanist Party deserved to be included in this list. They believe in focusing the United States almost entirely on scientific development in order to improve the human condition. Many of their policies are formed around the beliefs that robots will one day be a major part of American society and that technology is the most important way to extend and improve human life. If you read and love a lot of science fiction, then this is your party.
Now, this is by no means a comprehensive list. If you want to learn more about third parties, do some research and get informed. If you like something you read, actually get involved and break the party divide.
