Why I Voted Third Party in a Red State

[h_padgett]

NOTE: All I ask here is that you treat my opinion and reasoning with the same amount of respect you would expect of your own. This topic is in Debate & Discuss because I know it has the potential to ruffle a few feathers, but I will lock it if things get too crazy. I haven't seen any of that on here so far in other discussions, but I just wanted to put that out there as a precaution.

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I posted this yesterday evening on my personal Facebook page after taking most of the day to process and gather my thoughts on the election and its outcome. I wanted to be sure it was clear, and I didn't want to add to the plethora of negative posts - from both sides, mind you - that were and are still flooding my feed:

You might agree with me, but then again you may not: I voted Johnson/Weld.

Why?

To help ensure a third party on the Oklahoma ballot. I knew he wasn't a shoe-in, but I also couldn't justify participating in "choosing the lesser of two evils" - there were no lesser of two evils between the two main parties in my eyes (nor was Green Party candidate Jill Stein on the Oklahoma ballot, for any of my non-Okie friends wondering about that). Whether Trump or Clinton had my singular vote would not have swayed the outcome in the slightest, so I made a conscious decision to vote for more options in future elections.

And it worked. The Libertarian Party in Oklahoma got more than enough votes to ensure a place on the ballot at least through the next two years.

We need more choices. The two-party system is a joke and a slap in the face to the Founding Fathers - Washington warned us, fair and square. Now's the time to regroup, make plans, and come back swinging.

I knew I couldn't change the outcome of the election; almost certainly Trump or Clinton would have won anyway. That was plain as day. So I chose to be proactive about the future of my state. The Libertarian Party only needed 2.5% for full ballot access - it got 5.74%. It might be a little victory, but it's a HUGE step for a state that has not changed color since 1964, and even still Oklahoma has only ever been red or blue. This is how progress works, and this is how you make change happen: you get back up when you get knocked down, stand your ground, never give up, and keep moving forward.

[oldbuddy]

I think as long as you are willing to accept and support the obvious winner being from one of the two main parties, I think your strategy is one to be admired. Personally I think this race was much too close to cast my vote for anyone that would not be counted and risk someone getting in that would be bad for the country.

[lvstephanie]

I agree with your assessment that if your state is either strongly red or blue and you didn't like either of the top candidates, then choosing a 3rd party to open up more choices is probably beneficial. There's a right-wing podcaster in MN that voted for Jill Stein... His reasoning was that MN is a very blue state (still went for HRC even though its legislature is now Republican in both houses), he wasn't thrilled with DT, and if the Green Party got a higher status, it might cause more problems for liberals in the future (ie the Green Party would pull votes away from the Democrats, giving a conservative / Republican a better chance in future elections).

[linderlizzie]

NOTE: All I ask here is that you treat my opinion and reasoning with the same amount of respect you would expect of your own. This topic is in Debate & Discuss because I know it has the potential to ruffle a few feathers, but I will lock it if things get too crazy. I haven't seen any of that on here so far in other discussions, but I just wanted to put that out there as a precaution.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I posted this yesterday evening on my personal Facebook page after taking most of the day to process and gather my thoughts on the election and its outcome. I wanted to be sure it was clear, and I didn't want to add to the plethora of negative posts - from both sides, mind you - that were and are still flooding my feed:

You might agree with me, but then again you may not: I voted Johnson/Weld.

Why?

To help ensure a third party on the Oklahoma ballot. I knew he wasn't a shoe-in, but I also couldn't justify participating in "choosing the lesser of two evils" - there were no lesser of two evils between the two main parties in my eyes (nor was Green Party candidate Jill Stein on the Oklahoma ballot, for any of my non-Okie friends wondering about that). Whether Trump or Clinton had my singular vote would not have swayed the outcome in the slightest, so I made a conscious decision to vote for more options in future elections.

And it worked. The Libertarian Party in Oklahoma got more than enough votes to ensure a place on the ballot at least through the next two years.

We need more choices. The two-party system is a joke and a slap in the face to the Founding Fathers - Washington warned us, fair and square. Now's the time to regroup, make plans, and come back swinging.

I knew I couldn't change the outcome of the election; almost certainly Trump or Clinton would have won anyway. That was plain as day. So I chose to be proactive about the future of my state. The Libertarian Party only needed 2.5% for full ballot access - it got 5.74%. It might be a little victory, but it's a HUGE step for a state that has not changed color since 1964, and even still Oklahoma has only ever been red or blue. This is how progress works, and this is how you make change happen: you get back up when you get knocked down, stand your ground, never give up, and keep moving forward.

For what it's worth, two of my grown children believe as you do and voted accordingly. I admire what you did. I agree that two parties are inherently not good for the country.

One of my sons is living in Oklahoma right now while attending a junior college. He will be happy to know about the third party having a place on the ballot.

However, I do agree with oldbuddy's assessment. It seemed to me that maintaining the status quo would have been a disaster. 

[Nancy5]

I give you credit for voting as you did.  Of course you knew you would not be voting for the winner, but you are helping to make a third party.  Good for you

[madeara]

Good morning,
I respect and appreciate your view.  Excellent reasoning. 

[sfreeman8]

On the ballot in my state there was Libertarian, Green, Communist, and Workers parties besides the R&D. I know the Libertarian party got a few votes. I didn't check any further but now you got me curious.

I think I saw your post because it's very familiar, or else someone else took your post and posted it on another news site that uses FB as comment pages.

[elvisdo]

I know many people who have voted in a similar fashion and I can't fault them for it at all.

[king4cash]

Good for you, this is all about choice, and the freedom to choose our leaders....

[ivyparkgirl]

I thought Jill Stein was a good choice for third party.