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3rd Party Barriers

Imaginaryland is a fictional country with 10 electoral votes, and they are having a presidential election. There are three candidates running for president: Alex, Bailey, and Casey.

Alex is a member of the Red Party.
Bailey is a member of the Blue Party.
Casey is an independent third-party candidate.
Imaginaryland uses a winner-take-all system for its presidential election. 

On Election Day, the results are as follows in three key states:

In the State of Centralia (5 electoral votes):
Alex (Red Party): Receives 48% of the popular vote.
Bailey (Blue Party): Receives 47% of the popular vote.
Casey (Independent): Receives 5% of the popular vote.
Despite Casey's modest support in Centralia, Alex from the Red Party wins the state's electoral votes because they received the most popular votes, even though it's not a majority.

In the State of Easternburg (3 electoral votes):
Alex (Red Party): Receives 50% of the popular vote.
Bailey (Blue Party): Receives 48% of the popular vote.
Casey (Independent): Receives 2% of the popular vote.
Again, even though Casey received a small percentage of the popular vote, Alex from the Red Party wins all of Easternburg's electoral votes.

In the State of Westernville (2 electoral votes):
Alex (Red Party): Receives 49% of the popular vote.
Bailey (Blue Party): Receives 48% of the popular vote.
Casey (Independent): Receives 3% of the popular vote.
Once more, Alex wins Westernville's electoral votes due to having the most popular votes.

Question 1

Short answer

Identify or describe a structural characteristic that distinguishes winner-take-all voting districts from proportional systems.

Question 2

Short answer

Describe or explain how winner-take-all voting systems benefit the dominance of the two-party system in the United States.

Question 3

Short answer

What conclusion can be drawn regarding the impact of winner-take-all voting on the viability of third-party and independent candidates in American elections?

U.S. Government & Politics

Unit

Unit 5: Political Participation

Topic

5.5 Third-Party Politics

Format

Short answer

Short answer rubric

3rd party barriers

· Correct answers must describe that the winner-takes-all voting system allows the majority winner to take all electoral votes.
· Correct answers must explain how the winner-takes-all system freezes out 3rd party candidates.
· Correct answers must mention that voters often fear 'wasting' their votes on third-party or independent candidates in a winner-take-all system.
· Correct answers must state that 3rd party candidates have less name recognition than the two major parties.
· Correct answers must mention that 3rd party candidates struggle with ballot access.
· Correct answers must mention that 3rd party candidates struggle with debate access.
· Correct answers must explain how winner-take-all voting systems pose a significant challenge to the viability of third-party and independent candidates.
· Correct answers must mention that these systems encourage majority-party voting.
· Correct answers must mention that third-party and independent candidates often struggle to secure electoral victories or representation.
· Correct answers must explain how this structural characteristic of winner-take-all systems contributes to the dominance of the two-party system in American politics.

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