I'm not entirely sure how I feel about this as an idea, but I thought I'd share for those that don't share my unease. For those living in swing states with progressive ideals (i.e. wanting to vote for someone besides the party zombies), Votepair offers to pair you with a party loyalist who is willing to swap votes, and vote for Nader or Badnarik or Cobb (or even Charles Jay) in their own incredibly safe state of Nebraska or California or Texas in exchange for a vote for their candidate (typically Kerry) in a swing state.
Its kind of an interesting idea, and certainly legal, despite what some of the party pushers would tell you. As pointed out in this Slate article, you don't receive anything of value in return for your vote, but merely make a bargain in determining who to vote for. This is the same decision process one makes when deciding to vote for their second-choice candidate, despite the fact that they feel someone else is better qualified but unelectable. And, most importantly, its all unenforceable, meaning that everyone is still free to vote as they please, this is merely an agreement.
I'm not certain that I'm sold or signing up. But if third parties are ever to have a part in the process they must receive votes, not just lip service. And as long as we continue to function under the farce of the electoral college, in which 5 Million Californians have no impact on the election, and 2.6 Million Texans have no impact on the election, while 500 Floridians can turn the entire race (don't really need a link here, do I?), those in the meaningless states should at least make their voice heard on behalf of progressive causes. I'm tired of constantly being told about my *duty* to vote for someone I hate and who I think would be a shitty President, only slightly less shitty than his opponent. What about the duty of those whose votes mean *absolutely nothing* in red and blue states?
So I'm calling to every disgruntled Republican in California: Vote Badnarik! To every disgruntled Democrat in Texas: Vote Nader! To every voter who will be cheated out of a voice in the system by a corrupt and criminally stupid voting system: Make your vote mean something.
It's your duty.
I've always felt uncomfortable about vote swapping. It may not be illegal, but it feels pretty dishonest to me. On the other hand, the tactics the two major parties use to stay in power are more than a little dishonest and it may take something like this to take them down.
I've been told rather frequently lately that I will be "throwing my vote away" because I'm voting for Badnarik who has zero chance of winning. I'm not sure how voting for someone I really really don't want to be president (Kerry or Bush) constitutes anything other than throwing my vote away or how one's vote is only valuable if it goes toward the winning candidate. I wonder if, by the same logic, South Carolina Democrats or Washington state Republicans are consistently "wasting" their votes for president in thight elections.
With Michigan going further and further in to the Kerry column, it's looking pretty moot anyway.
One more day until the recount!
Yeah, I share your discomfort. I can't say I'm altogether against it, but I do draw distinctions between "legal" and "ethical", and I'm not so sure about the second.
I've always felt that a vote for a terrible candidate made out of fear is a wasted vote. Its a wasted opportunity to stand up on principle, and is instead an act of pure cowardice.