Stepping into the polling booth or filling out a mail-in ballot can be a daunting task. Who has time to keep up with politics on a federal level, much less a local one? Even for the informed voter, it’s hard to grasp the issues of the two main political parties-Republican and Democrat. What about myriad of small, underdog parties that most people have never even heard of? How can someone be expected to know where they stand on issues? Who has the time? For most voters, their vote usually comes down to a choice of Republicans or Democrats.

But is that right? Are Americans doing themselves a favor by restricting their political spectrum? What about the communists, socialists, anarchists, and all the other individuals that run for office outside of a main political party. Don’t they have some good ideas? Shouldn’t they be heard?

Spoilers or Real Challengers?

Perhaps for some, mention of the Green Party brings a bad taste to the mouth. In the highly contested 2000 presidential election, the Green Party- under candidate Ralph Nader- took home 2.74 percent of the National vote. Certainly not a large chunk. National media speculated that the Green Party, whose supporters would typically align with Democrat ideals, cost Al Gore the pivotal state of Florida. Some say that if Nader didn’t run, Al Gore would have won Florida, thus winning the election.

But in recent years, Green party candidates have done much more than play spoiler. Green party members began running for U.S. political office in 1985. A Green Party member has never held an elected position on the Federal level. The party has held local and state positions, and can be a huge political force in small elections. Across the US, there have been Green Party mayors, State Representatives, and local city council members. The Green Party may not be well-known or understood, but they have certainly played a part in shaping the political landscape of the U.S.

Remember: there is more to your ballot than two parties.