Third-Party Candidates

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that the successes in elections by third-party candidates are blocked by little media coverage, often not being in debates, reduced funding, a lack followers, and the electoral system. The author points out that third-party candidates can overcome a number of these obstacles by focusing on a single ideology or issue and by using inexpensive campaign techniques like debates, forums, and billboard advertising. The paper remarks that, while there are important exceptions, such as Governor Jesse Ventura of Minnesota, the majority of third-party candidates fail to be elected.

From the Paper:

"The electoral system itself often contributes to making the election of third-party candidates difficult. Many laws that relate to elections limit the success of third-party candidates. America's "winner-take-all system of counting ballots ... does little to encourage a party that perpetually comes in third or fourth place to repeatedly contest elections, whereas proportional representation systems, which are widely used in other industrialized democracies, do." Further, many states have ballot access requirements that state that candidates must have a specific number of signatures to run for office."

More papers on Third-Party Candidates:

• Analytical Essay # 128269 : "Third Party Politics"
• Essay # 22833 : "Media Coverage of Third Party Political Candidates"
• Analytical Essay # 120867 : "Third Parties in the U.S."

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