Wooster voters: If you know that Clinton is a better choice than Trump, don’t vote third party. For starters, it’s illogical to vote third party for president under the current system. Amendments would be required to make third parties viable, and the president has no say over amendments. Third party votes for federal and state congress make much more sense.
Regardless, 97,000 Floridians voted for Green Party nominee Ralph Nader in 2000, allowing Bush to win the presidency. Gore would have represented those voters far better, but they ironically let their pursuit of a “best fit” candidate prevent an environmental advocate from assuming office.
Furthermore, if third parties begin winning states, the 270 electoral vote threshold may not be reached by any candidate. The winner would then be decided by the House of Representatives. Voting third party is not only illogical and against voter’s interests, it could also end voter’s ability to directly elect the president.
Voting third party this cycle is immoral, because it takes a neutral stance while an inexperienced, sexist, racist, Islamophobic, climate change denying, conspiracy theorist, sexual predator is one election away from the presidency. You may be privileged enough to think this election is between the Joker and Lex Luthor, or that your protest vote is more important than the outcome, but the wellbeing of millions of undocumented immigrants, women, refugees and religious and racial minorities are on the line, along with the economy, environment, military and America’s global standing. Your conscience should take all of this into account, and should be the reason you vote for Clinton.
Sure, voting third party isn’t a vote for Trump. But it is a vote of indifference that does not affect the outcome. To quote Edmund Burke, “the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good [people] to do nothing.”
This election isn’t about you, or the two party system. It’s about the future of this country and billions of people around the world. It’s time to take your responsibility to vote seriously, and vote your conscience, not your privilege.
Nick Shiach can be reached for comment at NShiach20@wooster.edu.