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Third parties in the United States are political parties outside of the two major parties, the Republicans and Democrats. They are often made up of people who feel disenfranchised or unsupported by the major parties. However, voting for a third-party candidate is often seen as throwing away a vote and third parties are considered “spoilers.” Third parties face disadvantages in recognition, funding, airtime, debates, and access to polls. Despite this, many people are pushing for more choices and see third parties as a vehicle for change. The third largest party is the Constitution Party, followed by the Green Party and the Libertarian Party.
In the United States, a third party is any political party outside of the two major parties, the Republican and the Democrat. These groups are usually made up of people who feel disenfranchised by the big two, or feel that people are not effectively represented by either major party. However, voting for a third-party candidate is still often referred to as throwing a vote away, and third-parties are often considered “spoilers.” Ross Perot ran as the Reform Party candidate in 1992, for example, and won nearly 19 percent of the popular vote. He is often credited by Republicans with helping Bill Clinton win the presidency.
In 2000, Democrats blamed Ralph Nader, the Green Party candidate, for the election of George W. Bush. As politics becomes heated and controversial issues abound, more and more people are becoming politically active. They are becoming more educated about what is happening in the world using many different news sources. Those who feel supported or abandoned by the major parties can vote for an external candidate, even just to send a message.
Instead of continuing to vote for the “lesser of two evils,” many voters on both sides want more choices. However, third parties are currently at a disadvantage in terms of recognition, funding, airtime, debates and access to the polls, so they are often unable to offer voters much choice. Until a third party can compete with Republicans and Democrats, voting for one of these candidates will continue to be viewed negatively by many people. The irony is that without a high enough vote percentage, these parties will never be recognized as major parties.
Third-party applicants have filed lawsuits for fair treatment and access, and large numbers of people are pushing for more choices. Many see the major parties as two sides of the same coin. Change is brought about by having more choices, and third parties can become the vehicle for that change. Even when a third party doesn’t win an election, they may be able to bring certain issues to the fore and get Republicans and Democrats to address those issues.
The third largest party in the United States to date is the Constitution Party, followed by the Green Party and the Libertarian Party. There are many other smaller parties, all vying for valuable votes.
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