Do not waste your vote

In all the hubbub surrounding our political devolution, readers of this page may be overlooking an important element of Washington politics. Regardless of who you vote for, Washington will go blue. The Democrats will get their 12 electoral votes. After researching the betting markets, it looks like a 98 percent likelihood, but that is accounting for dramatic and unlikely shifts in the race. It is a virtual lock.

If you vote for either of the main candidates, your vote will hold no weight. Vote for Trump, Clinton wins the state. Vote for Clinton, Clinton wins the state. Vote for a giant meteor impact, Clinton wins the state. Much of the electoral map will have been decided long ago. In our forefathers’ great wisdom, we leave the important decisions to Pennsylvania and Florida.

There is another option though, and one that will actually make your vote hold weight. Vote third-party. Vote for Jill Stein or Gary Johnson. Jill Stein represents the Green Party, left of the Democrats and echoing much of Bernie Sanders’ message. Gary Johnson represents the Libertarian Party, very left on social issues, very right on economic issues. They won’t win, but voting for them will help them meet thresholds for campaign financing as well as promote greater participation within a restrictive process.

You don’t have to choose between Hillary Nixon and a hateful tangerine, you can vote for something this fall. Vote for more choices.

This story was originally published November 1, 2016 at 8:40 AM with the headline "Do not waste your vote."