Word: voting
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Finally, there is some value in casting a principled vote for a third-party candidate whose views are closest to one’s own, even if that candidate stands little chance of winning the election. The concept of principled voting is a lost one in American politics; drones of citizens vote for the most charismatic candidate, often without carefully considering the policy implications of their decisions. A recent study by Boaz Shamir indicates that voting preferences are closely correlated with a candidate’s perceived charisma, while Daniel Benjamin performed a behavioral analysis suggesting that...
...Party of Principle.” Voters expressing support for such parties necessarily have a concern for their ideological motives, rather than for their candidate’s charisma or charm. Since this, after all, is the goal of democratic voting—for citizens to vote for, and presumably elect, those representatives whose values and policy preferences will most accord with their own—third-party voters are likely closer to an ideal of democratic decision-making than mainstream party voters ever will...
...objections still arise: A vote for a third-party candidate can counterproductively split votes with the elector’s second-best choice. For example, in the 2000 election, 38 percent of those who voted for Nader would have voted for Gore if Nader had not run, while only 25 percent would have voted for Bush. However, in taking away from Gore’s totals by casting their vote for the Green Party, Nader’s supporters may have prevented their second-best choice from winning the election; the Nader voters ensured that the candidate whose policies were...
Ignoring the mathematical inaccuracy of the notion that Nader took away enough votes to cost Gore the election, this counterargument poses a difficult choice for the voter. Undoubtedly, the more rational decision is to cast the vote for Gore and ensure that the second-best option takes office. But the principled one is to vote for Nader and the values he represents...
Instead, citizens constantly find themselves choosing between the “lesser of two evils,” picking the choice that offends their values least rather than the one that corresponds to them most. Every citizen has to remember that their vote is their voice and an expression of their values; if their views accord most closely with those of third-party candidates, they should be encouraged to express their support through their vote. Instead of claiming that those supporting third-party candidates are throwing away their vote, we need to recognize the principles behind these votes...