significance of third parties

spoiler effect

where a losing party splits the vote taking votes away from another party causing them to lose

2.7% Green party vote taken away from Al Gore in 2000

Third Party Policy adoption

can have their policies adopted by another party

frequency of election to office

two major parties have had the presidency since 1853

impact on legislature

major parties control both houses of congress

capitalising Co-opted policies

Third parties unable to gain success from adopted policies

seats in congress

only 2 seats are not from the major parties in congress both in the Senate

percentage of popular vote won

between 1992-2020 they have accounted for more than 80% of the popular vote

Ross Perot 1992

19% of the popular vote

no Electoral College votes

took away vote from Bush