Is it true if I vote 3rd party that my vote will go to Bush?

Thank you.

-- undecided (undecided@vote.help), November 01, 2000

Answers

Undecided, If you vote for a third party candidate, your vote will go to that third party candidate. Third party candidates need all the help they can get, especially if we're ever going to see the end of the two party system, so please feel free to make a statement for your candidate and his party by giving him your vote.

The reason people are saying a vote for x, y, or z, will be a vote for Bush is that it is one LESS vote for Al Gore. Because the third party nominees this year are mainly liberal in nature,...the voters come more from the democrate pool than the republican pool. That "could" hurt the democratic nominee...and I'll be honest and say it IS hurting the democratic nominee. (Unless you want Buchanan, who is a third party candidate taking from the Republican side of the pool)

Some will argue that a vote for a third party is like throwing your vote away...some will say that it's important for us to vote our concious. It's up to you to decide which is more important to you.

Since I am a supporter of George Bush, I would say to you...VOTE FOR THE THIRD PARTY CANDIDATE OF YOUR CHOICE and be glad you made a statement, but my reason is I want to see my candidate elected...

-- kritter (kritter@adelphia.net), November 01, 2000.

kritter said a mouthful. Your vote goes to whomever you vote for. It is possible to get tied up in knots and outsmart yourself by trying to outguess a process that involves over 100 million people and a lot of weird complications like the Electoral College.

However, the system, as it is set up, strongly rewards having just two parties and strongly resists rewarding any third alternative. I prefer the simplicity and straightforwardness of voting for something I want, rather than for what I don't want so as to vote against what I don't want.

-- Brian McLaughlin (brianm@ims.com), November 01, 2000.

It might be interesting to vote on platform planks rather than for individuals. Then some citizen could be chosen at random as President, pledged to promote those positions that got the most votes. This way, we could vote the "party" of our choice by selecting a custom platform, kind of like buying a Chinese meal. I wonder what the final outcome would look like (and no, I'm not serious).

-- Flint (flintc@mindspring.com), November 01, 2000.

Suppose we vote on individual issues, not the man, as Flint suggests. Then, after all the issues have been voted on the sealed envelopes provided by the candidates will be opened. The candidated who's sealed positions most closely match the outcome of the issue votes get to be Prez for the next 4 years.

Or not.

Get rid of the electoral college, that should be step one if the people REALLY want a third choice.

-- Uncle Deedah (unkeed@yahoo.com), November 01, 2000.

"Is it true if I vote 3rd party that my vote will go to Bush? "

Only in Al Gore's little world.

In '96 I decided not to waste my vote. I decided that Bob Dole would have been a terrible president and voted third party instead. It was a very satisfying feeling.

-- butt nugget (catsbutt@umailme.com), November 01, 2000.

*man proposes--GOD disposes*

ALL THINGS_BY HIM--THRU HIM--TO HIM!!

FREE-WILL-OF-MAN-?? NOT!!!

SOONER OR LATER-MANKIND WILL='GET IT'

EVEN HIS ENEMIES ARE DOING HIS WILL!!!!!!

-- al-d. (dogs@zianet.com), November 02, 2000.