Registering to Vote and Third Parties

I registered to vote a few months ago, in order to vote for my town's budget. But after talking with many of my friends, I think there is an issue with the process.

They ask you to decide which political party you want to register with. I chose Democrat. I wanted to choose Green, and I went through the same mental process which is almost eliminating third party politics in the USA. I thought "Well it would be great and dandy, but when it comes time to vote for the Presidential election I'll just be victim to the spoiler rule and take votes away from the person who I think may do a better job out of the two larger political parties."

What do we do? How many people are registered as third party members? Honestly I don't think a third party member will ever be elected to a high office at this point, and as much as I support the Green party, I don't want my vote to be a waste. But I know that many thousands of people are probably feeling the same way, and if we all registered as third party members, maybe they would stand a better chance.

I've been mulling this over since I registered, and I know that I have quite a bit of time before the primaries. But due to a really good thread about Libertarianism, and the upheaval of the Republican party, plus the dissatisfaction with the Democratic party (even though I think it's doing time)... do you expect third parties to actually gain some ground in the near future? Is there anything that we can do to help? Do you think this is a bad idea?

I'd really love to see some new third parties. There needs to be one to accommodate dissatisfied Republicans, and there needs to be a group which is liberal but perhaps will put healthcare reform on the backburner to other issues.

I'd also like to see smaller single-cause parties gain some footage, especially in areas like abortion and gay-marriage. Maybe if you could join more than one party, like a large party and a single-issue party, people would be more satisfied for who they are supporting.

It's all very complex and I'm considering switching to Green, even though I support Obama and would want him to win the 2012 election unless some Republican showed up who isn't ridiculous.

Claiming "Independent" gives you much more power than claiming a specific Party affiliation.

One, it doesn't pigeon-hole you (and put you on any Watch-Lists).

Two, the Democrats and the Republicans both generally allow Independents to vote in their Primaries (they don't have to, but they almost always do).

Three, it allows you to vote on the issues and with your conscience rather than with your Party, without anyone having hurt feelings over it.

We do need more Political Parties in the U.S. This 50-50 (or 47-53, 53-47) see-saw we are on in the United States is getting us no where fast. Politics has been reduced to nothing more than Friday Night Amateur Football where citizens side with their favorite team out of loyalty rather than the merits of the politicians themselves, or the intent of proposed legislation, or the better interests of the country. The Presidential Election should not be considered the Super-Bowl, and Congress should not be the Play-offs!

Since we are a deadlocked Nation divided, let us prevent a Civil War (politically or literally) by dividing up the Parties even further so that no one has a clear majority any longer.

The more Political Parties that are involved in our Political System, the more things will focus on the real issues at hand, rather than brain-dead loyalty to Political Lines or to slight the other Party. Also, it would diminish the power of the Lobbyists as they would have to buy out a lot more Parties than they have had to do thus far!

If we had 9 or 10 Political Parties in the United States, with the constituency of the United States divided somewhat equally among them, our Congress would get a lot more accomplished with far less polemic agendas being protected at all costs.

The only downside I see to multiple Political Parties is that it makes for far more Scapegoats than we have currently. Instead of the Right point to the Left or the Left pointing to the Right to place all of the blame for everything that is wrong, each party would have 9 others they could point the blame at. Blamethrowing would become the new favorite pastime in Politics under a Multi-Party System (as if it isn't already).

reply to post by fraterormus


Hmm.. that's a good idea. But identifying with a group ("I'm Green. I'm Republican.") provides more of a political identity than identifying as an Independent. At least it seems that way.

I agree, though. Our two party system isn't helping anyone, and it doesn't leave a lot of room to work with in terms of where we want the country to go. We basically have two choices. It's wrong.

Other countries with more political parties seem to do better. You make a good point about blamethrowing, though.

I just don't see how we could ever transition to a more third/fourth/fifth-party friendly system. I'd like for us to get there, but it seems like it's a world away.

reply to post by ravenshadow13


Why are you worried about a "political identity". I'm not coming down on you, but subscribing to a political part and a "political identity" is exactly why have a two party system.

You are trying to class yourself. You are young you have lots of time to learn and mature, your "political identity" will change as you get older. I see you lean to the socialist, communist side of things.

reply to post by Hastobemoretolife


I would join the GREEN party, as I mentioned, primarily for activism reasons. I'm more concerned with the environment than any other issue. I have family members who have been Green since the party formed, and it's kind of a conundrum that joining it locks you in when it comes time for Presidential elections.

I'm currently registered as Democrat and even though I support some of the ideas, I don't support Socialism or Communism because healthcare reform or welfare aren't huge issues to me right now.

But I do care about the environment more than most Democrats AND Republicans do. I think if MORE people worried about their political identities, there would be a rise in third parties, actually. I think people are eager to categorize themselves as "Red" or "Blue" and I'm kind of teal, myself.

We have lots of time to learn and mature but our country is kind of falling apart and the issues that people my age care about are going unnoticed.

Take a listen to Miss McCain.

I personally think it should be illegal for the government to ask your political affiliation when registering to vote. First off, like my momma told me, "your politics is your business and no one else". What is the legal reasoning for asking? Can you just leave that question blank or MUST you answer? Honestly, what good does it do for SOCIETY to know how many people are registered R or D? If there were 1000 political parties, it still should not be a question that is asked of citizens in a free society.

Just my 2-cents

reply to post by ravenshadow13


The "green" party is not about environmental issues, they are a front for the communist.

The "green" movement was started by the communist in Russia when the communist wanted to start exporting communism.

This is the problem with political parties, and a "political identity". Let's take the BNP over in the UK. They dress their platform all up to sound nice and rosy, but they are fascist. Most people voting for them are not even aware of it.

Their platform doesn't sound anything like "fascism" but that is exactly what it is. A "political identity" is nothing but a label. It leads to group think, just like what we have now, there are certain amount of people that vote Democrat just because they are a democrat, same with republicans.

Politics are not cut and dry, like me, I'm an independent, there is not a political party that believes in what I believe in. There for my "political identity" doesn't exist because there is not a party that I identify with.

Your "political identity" is not a party, it is what you believe.

reply to post by ravenshadow13


You should re register as an independent. It makes the politicians work harder.

And BTW, even if you vote for a third party that has little chance to win, that does not mean that your vote was wasted. The more people vote for other candidates than the republican and democrat, the more there will be a chance for third and fourth parties to rise in this country. Part of the problem is that we are presented with only two points of view as if there were on two solutions to our woes.

reply to post by Hastobemoretolife


Pretty sure the Green party has nothing to do with Communism. If you're a Communist, like one of my friends, you can register through organizations as a Communist.

It's fine but honestly the environmental agenda and Communist agenda have nothing to do with each other. But if you hate both I guess that makes them the same thing.

When I moved to Maine for a short time I registered to vote there. They don't pigeon hole you there and can choose a party. I wrote in 'The Magnificent Raving Looney Party" and handed my card to the registrar who didn't even blink and handed me my receipt!

[edit on 6/27/2009 by ZindoDoone]

reply to post by ZindoDoone


That's great! I'm moving to Maine in the Fall for school so if I register there (instead of doing absentee ballots here) I will have to think of something creative to write in.

But what happens come the Primaries for the Presidential election? You can only vote for people running for "The Magnificent Raving Looney Party?"

reply to post by ravenshadow13


I actually don't know because I never voted in any primary, only 2 major elections and it was in '92 and '96 so you'll just have to find out when you get to U of M or Bates!!
Zindo

The last time I registered to vote their was only 3 choices Demoncrap, Republicon, & Independent...... Also this last election Independents were not allowed to vote in the Republican primaries because oh well We couldn't have a Ron Paul type win the primaries.... I am so sick and tired of the system and I am sorry but I feel that this election was stolen from me and I know several people that feel the same way....

reply to post by jkm1864


Really referring to my current party as "Demoncrap" isn't going to get you a thoughtful response from me.

The last time I registered to vote their was only 3 choices Demoncrap, Republicon, & Independent...... Also this last election Independents were not allowed to vote in the Republican primaries because oh well We couldn't have a Ron Paul type win the primaries.... I am so sick and tired of the system and I am sorry but I feel that this election was stolen from me and I know several people that feel the same way....