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Monday, November 13, 2006
Is a third-party vote a wasted vote?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
“A cord of three strands is not quickly broken” is written in Ecclesiastes 4:12. Likewise, I think that three or more political parties make sure that our democracy remains strong.
On Sunday November 5, I attended the final debate among the three candidates for Georgia governor.
I saw them up close and in a revealing way what television audiences miss. And for the first time I really saw and listened to Libertarian candidate Garrett Michael Hayes.
I believe that Hayes helped to elevate the debate and kept it from becoming a tragicomic spectacle. He offered thoughtful and well-articulated, substantial answers that were more impressive than the predictable sound bites given by his opponents.
I found myself, a ‘yellow dog Democrat,’ agreeing with Hayes on issues including small business development, stem cell research and how to respond to the methamphetamine epidemic.
I left the debate wanting to know more about him and his party.
I realized that many people, like me, shortchange their voting capital by only considering candidates from the two major parties.
I now think that it’s wise to consider the candidates and platforms of other smaller parties. They can offer new ways of thinking about old issues and make us conscious of things that currently aren’t part of the political smorgasbord - but should be.
Steve Perkins, 31, a software developer, and Libertarian activist who lives in Duluth says, “Libertarians have been an effective runoff and spoiler threat for some time now.” Perkins cites both the 1992 and 1996 Georgia senatorial elections.
An article that ran in the AJC in October backs up Perkins’ claim:
“In 1996, when Democrat Max Cleland won the U.S. Senate race, Jack Cashin, the Libertarian candidate, received 80,000 votes. Many felt those votes came at the expense of Republican candidate, Guy Millner, who lost to Cleland by 28,000 votes.”
“In 1992, Libertarian Senate candidate Jim Hudson forced a runoff between Democrat Wyche Fowler and eventual winner Republican Paul Coverdell. In the general election, Fowler received 35,000 more votes than Coverdell but failed to get the required 50 percent - perhaps because Hudson siphoned away about 70,000 votes.”
Perkins, who is also webmaster for the Gwinnett Libertarians, reports that about 360 Gwinnettians are on the Libertarian’s mailing list. The Gwinnett and Dekalb Libertarians meet monthly.
Perkins says that most of the Libertarians he knows are white and college educated. Men outnumber women about 60 percent to 40 percent. But membership is open to anyone who shares their political outlook.
You can read about them online: www.lpgeorgia.com/gwinnett/
Although third party candidates might find it difficult to win elections, I believe they help strengthen democracy.
Assertive third parties give voters more choice and enable them to leverage their political power and influence political outcomes in new ways.
I hope third parties such as the Libertarians will continue to seek to have their ideas heard and their candidates on the ballot.
I also hope that American voters will give third party candidates the audience and respect they deserve, including seriously considering voting for third party candidates. I know that I will.
Do you think voting for a third party candidate is a wasted vote? Did you vote for a third party candidate or do a write in vote this election? Why?
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