Would you (yes, YOU!) ever consider voting for a 3rd party?

Yes, I would vote for a third party candidate. I almost did it too this past election because I wasn't sure I wanted to vote for either Obama or McCain.

I would vote for a third party candidate because what if I am in a situation where I don't like the Republican candidate or the Democrat candidate? I don't exactly fit in either of the parties. I'm too liberal for the Republican party and I'm too conservative for the Democrats.

I would and I did.

When Bush Sr was trying for his second term and Clinton was running against him, I voted for Perot. Ross Perot was able to get almost 20% of the vote but that wasn't enough. Still, I think it was a wake up call to the Reps and Dems. Obviously, I liked Perot more than either Bush Sr or Clinton. I also respected the fact that he used his own personal money to run.

I hoping that he would win but not expecting it. I couldn't vote for the others. I wanted to do my part to help Perot. Someday, I believe that a third party will win, although perhaps maybe not in my lifetime. It's only a matter of time though. The Republican party was once a third party to the Democrats and the Whigs and look what they've done. If nothing else, it sends a message to the main two parties that they aren't guaranteed to win and it makes them look twice at the issues that the third party is supporting that the people like so much.

Even in local elections now, I sometimes vote for the Libertarian candidate (if one is running) if the Republican candidate isn't fiscally conservative enough. I know that in local elections they are more likely to win but even if they don't, I'll still vote for them.

Okay, okay . . I admit it . .I voted for Ross Perot and actually everyone I know did too . . saw him on Larry King and all those charts made sense at the time. Because of our states vote for Perot . . the third parties actually ended up with enough votes to be placed on the ballots in the next few elections .. our state was also responsible for Perot being invited to debate Bush and Clinton.

I have also voted in the past for Ralph Nader.

My support of third party candidates is at an end though because it is apparent that all the votes do is either bolster or hurt one of the two major party candidates . . . so I have switched to voting mostly Democratic.

been there, done that.

i mostly did it due to the fact that it would take votes away from the other 2 parties, and give society the indication that there are changes that need to be made. that the 2 parties don't always hit things on the nail, and we need to be open minded enough to accept that and realize that a 3rd party could quite possibly be better in the long run. not everything is black and white, nor should be limited to one of two.

Yes, and I did. I happily voted for the Libertarian Party this year. I knew Bob Barr wouldn't win. I'd rather vote on principle than for the lesser of two evils. I am a rarity in America: a person who votes not for a (D) or an (R), but for what I truly believe is right, based off of long hours of research.

Yes, I've voted libertarian before.

Whenever a third party gains votes. the two major parties always looks to steal the more moderate or more popular planks from that party. So even if your party does not win, if they can garner enough votes to make the other two take notice, you can still accomplish your goal in the next election.

Honestly, no. I would like to see a viable third party form and believe we need to have broader participation, but to vote for someone who has absolutely no chance of winning is wrong....it does not send a message that will ever make a difference, or even get heard - sad but true. Eventually a third party will figure out a way to become a "force", but until then...I want my vote to matter.

Im canadian so I have 4 parties to choose from. Liberal, Conservatives, New Democrat (NDP), and BLoc Quebec. No big deal. I vote for which party has a better political platform.

Probably not, I would feel my vote was just a waste, I would either stay home and not vote altogether or pick the lesser of the two evils from the other two parties.

I voted for Ron Paul this year.

The problem with America is that there are plenty of third party voters out there. But they are too afraid that no one else will vote for them and it will be a wasted vote. Everyone should just vote for who they want, not for the lesser of two evils.