Do third party candidates "steal" votes from the other two parties?

No

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by Leigh Goessl

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Despite what the media, Republicans and Democrats would like people to believe, third parties do not steal votes from the other parties. Many Independent voters do not believe in the ideologies of the Republican and Democrat parties and if not for a third party candidate, would likely write-in a candidate or simply stay home on Election Day.

The primary two parties would like you to think third party candidates "steal" their votes because if they admitted people truly believe in a third party they'd have to admit to their own shortcomings. Independent voters won't stand for empty promises, fallacies, mud-slinging campaigns and inability to truly enact promised change.

The Republican and Democrat parties have grown to be nothing more than one big party who draws a line and picks a side to create some division and identity, but in reality they have shown they are more alike than different as illustrated by their actions. Many Independent voters have recognized this and are no longer willing to support either of them.

Sadly, many Republican and Democrat party members are no longer primarily interested in working for the people; they are too busy trying to appease their respective parties and satisfy those businesses who spent money on their campaigns to get elected. The whole electoral process has become about winning and unfortunately the "average Joes" the candidates profess to be striving to help achieve the American Dream are the ones who are being left out in the cold.

In 2000 I first heard of Ralph Nader's candidacy and decided it was great for a change to no longer have to take deep gulp and pray for the best as I pulled that lever behind the curtain. Finally for the first time since I was eligible to vote I saw a real option which appealed to me. I had been familiar with Mr. Nader's long-standing hard work for consumers and the people of the US and knew he would make a fine President even if some of his stances are not in accordance with mine.

I refuse to vote what I perceive to be the "lesser of two evils" because in all consciousness I feel it to be wrong and that by doing this I am condoning the current mess our electoral and political framework is in. By simply pulling the lever for Republican or Democrat, I feel as if I am not only sending a statement I accept their ways, but offer my support with my blessing through a vote. I will not vote for a candidate and support a political party whose behaviors, ideals and actions are not acceptable to me. There is no way Mr. Nader or any other Independent candidate is "stealing" my vote because neither a Republican nor Democrat had it to begin with.

Many Independent voters feel by condoning the political party duopoly it only perpetuates and compounds existing problems. Voters who cast a ballot for Independents refuse to buy into the myths that third party candidates "steal" votes because that is what the Democrats, Republicans, big business and media want people to believe because in actually they are the ones coveting those valuable Independent votes.

Change is not always easy to achieve, but as history illustrates challenges can be overcome with perseverance and commitment to stand up for one's beliefs and not to back down into conformity because it's "the system" or "the way it is". This is a fundamental belief many Independent voters have and there is no way the "stealing" vote theory play into this conviction.

If not for Independent candidates, many voters who cannot bring themselves to conform to the restrictive Republican and Democratic ideology would probably vote apathy and stay at home.

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