Is It Worth It to Vote If Your Candidate Has No Chance of Winning?

One thing about voting for third party candidates is they then can quaify for and have access to funding like the Democrats and Republicans. It is a way to break out of the 2 party system we have now. That makes it not a wasted vote.

I've voted for Pat Buchanan and Alan Keyes. Today I am taking 3 kids under age 6, 2 of whom are sick, to the polls with me (my early voting plan didn't pan out), to cast a vote for Romney/Ryan, who don't have a chance of winning my state. So, that tells you where I fall on the issue ;-)

You should still vote. And unfortunately it's recommended that you vote for the lessor of the two evils. voting for one of the other parties just skewes the real race. You need to vote for either ob or mitt... dont vote for one of the others because that screws up the electoral college vote.
Vote for all the other things on the ballot too, it's not just about the pres.

The president isn't the only vote on the ballot. You're also voting for your Congress representative, plus any other officials and state/county/city issues. Why wouldn't you take the time to make your voice heard, even if it is not for one of the main candidates?

There are many other issues on the ballot, local and state offices, local inititives. What is your reason for not voting on those? One could argue that they are more important than the presidential race since they are likely to impact you more directly.

I just don't buy the idea that voting is inconvenient and therefore you shouldn't bother. Lame.

YES You need to vote - no matter who your choice is!!! The Presidential race is not the only thing on the ballots in many areas so you NEED TO VOTE!!!!

My Great - Great Aunt was a Suffragette and fought long and hard for WOMEN to Vote. This is a VERY Important issue to me - I was brought up that if you are eligible to vote then you register & vote......If you do not Vote - you lose the right to complain

Vote for whoever you want. It's YOUR vote, and nothing will ever change if everyone just keeps voting for "the lesser of two evils".

Keep in mind also that the President isn't the only thing to vote on right now. We had a lot of amendments and stuff in our area. You can probably find out what all is on your ballot with a quick google.

Well, yes, for a couple of reasons.

First of all, you can vote for whomever you want for President. If you CARE which of the two big ticket candidates is president for the next four years, I'd suggest you choose one of them. If you really don't care on that issue (ie think they're both bad or both equally okay) then feel free to vote for whomever you want to give your support.

Second (and more importantly) the presidential election is NOT the only thing on the ballot! You need to vote for congress people, local initiatives, school board, sheriff, etc. It's very important that you vote on these issues!

There are more things on your ballot than just the president. Also below I am posting something my friend wrote on FB to help give you some perspective instead of the cheesy "just vote" mantra we all get:

"Even my overwhelming cynicism cannot override the fact that I am still thankful that I live in a country where, as a woman, I can freely vote and go to school and pick a career; I am free to agree or disagree; I can go wait in line to vote and not fear death for exercising my right. Thousands of men and women have died so that I can have this right. How can one not vote??"

Many school board elections, millages, and proposals are won by a handful of votes. That's where your vote counts the most. Go on line, find out what is on the ballot, figure out what you think is best, and vote.

If you voted then maybe a 3rd party would be considered a legitimate alternative choice. There is power in numbers...let your vote be counted among voting percentage statistics.

Take a break from cleaning...go for a road trip with grandma to the polling place and enjoy a moment with her celebrating the right you both have to vote. 2 generations together on election day seems kind of nostalgic and powerful in my book.

Happy election day!!!

Honestly, I feel that voting for someone you know can not win (in this case anyone other than Obama or Romney) is like throwing your vote away. But you HAVE to vote because not voting is worse than throwing your vote away. At least voting for the "can't win" candidate sends the message that I'd rather vote how I feel than vote for the other options I was given. Personally, I would still end up voting for one of the two candidates...not really for the lesser of the two evils but AGAINST the one I felt was the worst.

Go vote.

Its not about who you vote for...its about exercising the right to. Many US soldiers died protecting your right to vote...to not vote is to let them die in vain.

I don't care who wins. I just want this economy to recover and I just want the unemployed to be working again so people can live without worrying.

You absolutely should vote!!!

I live in Obamaland and I think it's extra important to vote even tho I'm a Conservative, we need our voices heard. Plus it pains me to know that American Soldiers have given their lives for us to have this freedom.

I also find it important because there are woman in third world countries that don't get this special right that we do. Did you here about the 14 yr old girl that was shot multiple times and left for dead, because she spoke up that she wanted girls to go to school. She was flown to Britain and was in critical condition but is doing well now, can you imagine that?

Go vote

ABO 2012

Yep, vote for what you feel is best.

Of course it is. Each party does look to see how the vote is distributed.

Also, there are other things on the ballots that need your vote as well. Don't you want a say on what judges can sit on the bench? How about your representatives - state and federal?

In Illinois, there is a proposition about whether public pensions should require a majority vote before raising them (that is my simple explanation). Pretty important proposition that is being decided by the people.

So yes, go and vote!

A vote for Stein is a vote for Romney. If you are good with this, go for it. Same way a vote for Nader was a vote for Bush and a vote for Anderson was a vote for Reagan. Politics is compromise - ideally compromise is the way the best governing gets done. We are a diverse electorate - a single idealogue will never represent the views of every one of us - instead just lead to a log jam and radical divisiveness. Throwing your vote away is your choice, but as a citizen you do have a civil obligation to vote responsibly.

It's absolutely worth it. The more people start voting for 3rd party candidates, the more coverage they'll be likely to receive in the future, thus (hopefully) allowing for more than a bipartisan system in the future.

A vote is NEVER wasted, whether or not the candidate wins. I often vote third party candidates, and I am convinced that when a third party candidate gets a noticeable share of the vote, it sends a message to the mega-parties that they have been tried and found wanting. It also encourages third party candidates to keep running. There WILL come a day when we have a president who is not from one of the mega-parties.

it's your voice. VOTE.

If you vote for Jill Stein - your voice will be heard that NEITHER Obama or Romney stood for what you stand for.

VOTE.

County taxes - school/education issues - State Constitutional referendums and much more are on your ballot. This is NOT just about President.

YES! Vote. Vote. Vote. There is nothing more irritating than knowing someone has the opportunity to vote and is considering not voting. If you want change, you have to do something about it. Please vote for whoever you want to be president---if enough people do that you can make a difference and sway the votes enough. You never know if that 5% of undecided voters goes to Johnson or Stein etc. I would definitely go and vote---no matter what, you will regret it if you don't. At least I would!

To me, the important thing is to vote and make an informed vote. If Jill Stein is your choice, vote for her. You don't have to vote for a major party. You are also voting for seats in Congress, judges, board of education, and ballot questions. Take the time to vote. Women fought hard for your right to do so.

There is always power in numbers. It will mean something.

Vote. It is your God given right. Do you not understand that men and women have died while fighting for the freedoms and right to vote that we all enjoy

Please remember in MN we have some VERY important constitutional amendments up for consideration!!!! Not voting for "the person who will win" is not a waste, ever.

Make your voice heard--especially as a woman. Please Vote!!

As others have mentioned there are other important issues and decisions to be made on your ballot other than the president. You still have time to learn about those and vote for your pick for president as well.

Vote for anyone you want but please do vote. Apathy in any society is dangerous.

YES!! And guess what, if these people were educated in the process, they would know that there are more than 2 parties on the ballot for president AND you can write in your choice.
Make your voice heard!

Oh, I also hate the "my vote cancels out your vote, so let's not go" ARGH.

Rah rah, go vote - LOL

Personally I believe that the most important part of voting today has NOTHING to do with the president. For me it's about the senate, congress and any other state/local propositions on the ballot.

Yes I voted for someone to be president...but that is not the reason I voted today. I voted to make sure my voice was heard that Todd Akin should not be elected.

We all have our priorities...today mine was not about the president but about who other Representative of my opinion(s) are.

Think about the Suffragettes.

In a perfect world--yes.
But this isn't s perfect world.
I agree in this case, a vote for Stein is a vote for Romney.
If you can live with that end game, vote for her.
Just be aware that's what you're doing!

good question.

is it worth it to vote when it will be decided by a margin of thousands of votes? or because the electoral college actually decides the presidency and they aren't legally bound to vote the way the people do? or that all politicians have made their careers out of doing what they think looks most favorable to the most people? or that once they are in office, between congress, the house, advisors, and lobbyists, the majority of what they intend to do will never happen? should we just vote our "party" having no idea who the majority of these people are? what about all the "bills" that they are trying to pass that the majority of us regular joe's have no way of correctly deciphering, since laws get interpreted to suit whoever is in charge anyway?

to those that vote, my hat is off. i know, i'm evil, i'm the antichrist, i'm unamerican. but i am nowhere near smart enough to sort it all out. so i will be staying out of it. and no, since the only thing i will hear is "then you can't complain" - i won't be. because no one will ever convince me it would have been better with the other guy.

I haven't looked at everyone's responses but I say - YES - vote regardless of whether you think there's a chance or not.

I tend to think an independent vote, is typically a vote for the GOP. There are a lot of other positions on the ballot to vote for.

Maybe too late but, if you're voting for Stein, don't vote. I like her too, but it's just a vote for Romney.

YES! I usually have done so - this was my first election where I voted for a major party.

I voted third party a number of times when I was younger. But, as somebody who voted for Nader in 2000, I now vote third party only if I ABSOLUTELY don't care which major candidate wins. (I agree with Stein on a lot of issues, but couldn't vote for her this time.)

I do think you should get out and vote for down-ticket candidates and issues, as well as your presidential choice.

I wasn't planning on voting due to that reason, but I decided last minute to vote mainly because of the local elections and state constitution ammendments. As far as president is concerned, I voted 3rd party.

Only worth it if you are ok with the person who does eventually end up winning.