Election: Think Twice, Third Party Voters

It’s December 19, 2016. The Electoral College has voted, but no candidate has received the required 270 votes as a third party candidate has divided the vote three ways. So, following the Twelfth Amendment to our Constitution, the next president will be decided by Congress.

Each state delegation will get one vote, regardless of the state population. Wyoming and Utah will get one vote, California and New York will get one vote. And since there are more Republican leaning states than Democrat, Congress is about to pick a president who does not have the support of the majority of voters, Donald J. Trump.

Voters shout, “Down with the Twelfth Amendment!” “Down with the Electoral College!” But it is too late. The constitution takes years to amend.

How did this happen the people wonder? The answer is obvious. Voters, in their disgust, turned to third party candidates. That resulted in the selection of Mr. Trump.

Not possible? Twice before in our history, candidates have not won a majority of electoral votes, and it has been close in several other elections. So think twice before voting for a third party. Your vote could wind up electing our worst nightmare.

This story was originally published October 17, 2016 at 3:41 PM with the headline "Election: Think Twice, Third Party Voters."