In my small corner of the world, Johnson is getting Republican votes. Personally I know a handful of people not voting GOP and going Libertarian (you can probably include myself.) These are people who vote R down the ticket every election, and this time, they just can’t bring themselves to vote for Trump.
I don’t know if it’s just my surroundings or a sign of something larger, but I don’t see an energized Republican party. I see a divided one.
Uh…Democrats?
…
Can anyone considering voting for a third-party candidate explain his thought process to me?
“I dislike both of the candidates that have a chance to win, but I so believe in the process that has presented me with them that I’m going to take the time to vote for someone with no chance.”
I can understand voting for the lesser of two evils. I can understand voting for a candidate with whom you agree. I have a hard time understanding voting for any other reason, but it seems that is actually what is happening this year.
A feel good gesture that you participated but didn’t do any damage or benefit.
I live in IL, a state that has voted Democratic for every Presidential election since 1992. My individual vote for a Republican will have absolutely no bearing on who our electoral votes go to, therefore I’m going to vote for the candidate who more closely matches my own principles.
Or, to put it in your terms: A vote for a Republican for President has no chance and a vote for Libertarian has no chance. Therefore I’m going to vote for the one whose platform I agree with.
HA HA HA HA
If 100% of the minority party that are eligible would vote, then every state would be in play. The total population is split relatively equal looking historically.
But you know registering and voting are far more difficult than going to a store & getting a cell phone - 94% of population
Hacked audio has Hillary refering to Bernie supporters as basement dwellers.
It’s a bit more than a gesture, the importance lies not in a 3rd party vote for this elections sake but for its impact on future elections. It forces a major party to shift their platform to gain the 3rd party vote by putting forward a candidate that is more in line with said 3rd parties views. I for one don’t ever want to see another candidate that even remotely resembles Trump run for the GOP ticket again. Casting my support(which has always been for the GOP) for a 3rd party is the only that I can make it heard.
But only if %100 of the majority party that were eligible didn’t vote. And in some local races you could have every registered Repub vote and the candidate would still lose to the Dems who actually vote.
Given the infinitesimal impact of my vote (if I were to vote R) it’s not even rational to make the effort.
When all eligible voters don’t vote, it gives the dominant party (ie Dem in IL) the appearance of greater strength than they actually have. Minor party doesnt get out the vote, it snowballs into Dominant holding all of the positions, and then NY, CA, MA are in Dem column right away and candidate is half way home before a vote is cast.
I know it’s really sexist to talk about a female candidate’s body type or clothes, but…I find this deeply disturbing. I need to know what it means. Is she signalling something to voters who have a secret fondness for North Korean or Chinese dictators?
The importance of this has been greatly lost on the GOP, when the day comes that they lose the presidential in Texas I think it may finally sink in. GOP has been completely limp here in CA state politics, meanwhile the Dems have been steadily chipping away at the Republican block in Texas and cinching the noose on GOP resistance in CA.
She does seem to project that communist dictator vibe that the kids are into these days.
Lol this reminded me of the SNL Hillary skits where she was trying to pull in the Bernie Millennials.
I see it steadily happening here in Texas exactly as you say.
Already happened in FL, NC, VA.
Always a surprise to me when a state is massively GOP in non prez positions and then votes Dem or is a fight to the last vote. I get why, due to voter participation in off years, but still odd. I profess ignorance as to if that happens in reverse, but feel doubtful.
Edit There is an organization that San Antonio mayor and brother are involved in devoted to for that purpose…
Thanks @smh_23 for contributing to that PAC that contributes to that organization
Scratches smh off of Christmas card list,
Not unless you can show voter turnout as a proportion of eligible voters is asymmetric, and I don’t believe that to be the case.
Anyways, we’ve gotten off track. Within NickViar’s question was the premise that “both of the candidates have a chance to win.”
As I’ve shown in the state of IL, that premise is incorrect. Trump has no chance of winning the state therefore it can be argued that any vote cast not for Hillary is a waste/irrational/useless.
I took it one step further and said, since my vote for Johnson is just as irrational as a vote for Trump I’d rather vote for the person who more closely represents my principles.
Hasn’t been happening at all in CA on the GOP side, sure there are some small pockets where the GOP elects a rep or some other low office but if anyone of them tries to play at the state level or heaven forbid the national level then they get put on check pretty quick. CA gets a rep as being over the top liberal but it’s mostly exaggerated by the Bay area and Sacramento state dems that have a lock on the state politics.
I don’t know what it is but it seems pretty safe to say that the democratic party is a hell of a lot more organized and strategic across the board.
But your vote is not useless as it relates to future elections, this is what more people need to keep in mind.
It’s one thing if the candidate doesn’t perfectly fit your mold as the ideal CIC, some compromise on behalf of the general electorate is desired for a functional democracy. When the candidate is so far detached from what you desire that your vote for said candidate is predicated on being the lesser of two evils then it becomes an obligation to protest both candidates for the sake of your future options.
Sorry to steal your thunder… @thunderbolt23
