• babypigeon@lemmy.world
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      7 months ago

      I don’t understand the logic behind not voting. It’s not the same as voting uncommitted in a primary, which at least gets counted as a voter having an opinion about a candidate. Not voting isn’t registered as anything aside from low turnout, maybe? And possibly increases your chances of being removed from the voter registry.

      • John Richard@lemmy.world
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        7 months ago

        I’m leaning voting third party which is way better than not voting at all. At least it will increase numbers and show people are fed up with the two party system.

        • AbidanYre@lemmy.world
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          7 months ago

          Third parties need to prove viability at a smaller scale before the presidency is realistic. As misguided as the Free State Project was, at least they tried doing it in the right order.

          • joostjakob@lemmy.world
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            7 months ago

            Third parties make little sense as long as you have a first passed the post system. Change to proportional representation and you’ll get more choice automatically.

          • I_Has_A_Hat@lemmy.world
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            7 months ago

            If a third party gets 5% of the national vote, they are entitled to federal funding the next election. Granted, it’s not a huge amount, but it gives them a seat at the table and would be a big first step at ending the two party system. A third party vote is not as useless as you make it out to be. The goal isn’t winning, it’s just getting 5%.

            Now, personally I don’t think that will ever happen. Closest we got was in 2016 with the libertarian party getting 3.2%. I don’t think people are as willing to vote 3rd party these days.

            • AbidanYre@lemmy.world
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              7 months ago

              Closest we got was in 2016 with the libertarian party getting 3.2%.

              Ross Perot got almost 20% in 1992 and ~8% in 1996 and the Reform party has gone nowhere since then.

          • shortwavesurfer
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            7 months ago

            The fact you’ve heard of the Free State Project is kind of impressive actually. I don’t pay that much attention to it, but if I ever got to the point where I thought it would work, I’d be moving there.

              • shortwavesurfer
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                7 months ago

                I think I have read this article before, but I really ought to get the book that is referenced here and try reading it and see what it’s like. I think the Free State Project is still around, but I’m not sure. However, even if it’s not, I know there are still quite a few libertarians living in New Hampshire that moved there for that reason, and so it would be by far the most libertarian state around. Take a look at free talk live and the porcfest and forkfest as examples. They have New Hampshire branded goldbacks, Use gold and cryptocurrency as money, And generally get arrested for activism for telling the government that they are A bunch of murdering psychopaths.

                Edit: NBC Boston did a documentary about them rather recently.

        • dvoraqs@lemmy.world
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          7 months ago

          Why not advocate for another election system that will make third parties viable? Basically then, your vote should be towards preserving and improving our democracy.

          • John Richard@lemmy.world
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            7 months ago

            What better wait to advocate than to practice the idea that third parties are viable candidates by voting for them.