Lemieux, Scott. “Revise the Electoral System to Encourage All Voters to Support Their First Choice.” Gale Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection, Gale, 2022.
This article is a viewpoint essay organized into two sections: the summary and the main content. This article persuasively discusses the electoral system to dismiss third-choice parties as they do not represent the ideal voter preferences. The author uses the instance of the pre-election period in 2016, in which Donald Trump had less than 45 percent of becoming president simply because a particular section of voters, especially millennials, were opposed to him and thus would not mind voting for someone they knew little about (Lemieux para 2). The author claims that plurality systems used ignore highly pertinent information as they treat voters as having no preference for the candidates they do not mark. The author is biased toward dismissing the electoral system and does not demonstrate the consequences that would follow if the system encouraged voters to support their first choice. The author is unable to comprehensively handle this subject since he completely dismisses and does not recognize the say of third parties. I believe that third-choice parties, despite being the minority, similarly have staunch supporters and thus cannot be denied the opportunity to benefit from stray voters who are not attracted to the major parties.
Doherty, Brian. “Third Parties in the U.S Cannot Win, But They Are Still Worthwhile.” Does the Two-Party System Still Work?, edited by Noah Berlatsky, Greenhaven Press, 2010.
This article is a viewpoint essay organized into a commentary section and four other sections which offer persuasive thoughts on the topic. This article discusses the worth of third parties even though they certainly cannot win elections. While it is certain that the U.S president will always either be a democrat or republican, the author champions the idea that voting should not only be about winning and that it is not purely an instrumental act (Doherty para 14). Everyone has their objective towards voting and thus should be allowed to express it to whichever party without criticism. This article leans towards protecting minority views, that is, third parties. The author is well-qualified and has the necessary expertise to handle this subject. He acknowledges the reality on the ground and advocates for a different way to do things without being offensive to any group. This article provides enough information and persuades me to share the author’s sentiments that the electoral system must recognize the worth of third parties.
Works Cited
Doherty, Brian. “Third Parties in the U.S Cannot Win, But They Are Still Worthwhile.” Does the Two-Party System Still Work?, edited by Noah Berlatsky, Greenhaven Press, 2010.
Lemieux, Scott. “Revise the Electoral System to Encourage All Voters to Support Their First Choice.” Gale Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection, Gale, 2022.
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