US Third Political Party Demand

This Presidential election year broke a trend. In the past during an election year, there was growing confidence in the (ad hoc) two party system. Between the elections, the demand for a third party would rise to about 60%. This election year, the demand for a third party has remained high at 57%. As the election approaches, only 37% of Americans think the two parties are doing a good enough job. The recent polls, however, suggest Americans don’t think the existing third party candidates are the answer either; otherwise they’d be polling much higher. While the dissatisfaction may not elect a someone from outside the Democratic or Republican parties, there may be enough votes to disrupt the conventional electoral process. A trend to watch may be the growing percentage of voters who actually vote for candidates outside the Democratic or Republican parties. In previous years, such votes accounted for 2% of the total. This year, they are polling at 10% of the total. If they were to poll at even greater numbers next time, there may be a fundamental shift in American politics that is greater than any shift since the Republicans and Democrats displaced their predecessors.

(Click on the graph for the link.)

“Americans Desire for Third Party Persists This Election Year” – Gallup