Americans Elect

Voters that are unsatisfied with the two party system may get their biggest chance since the 1992 election with Ross Perot to vote for a viable third party.

The organization “Americans Elect” is seeking to put a solid third party candidate on the ballot this November. The organization holds the slogan “pick a president, not a party.”

The organization is attempting the first non-partisan primary ever and refuses donations from PACs, corporations, unions, and any other organization the could make it more partisan.

Voters create an account on the organization’s website then can answer questions to determine their political opinions and priorities. After you are done answering the questions the website pairs you with candidates that have views and priorities that are similar to you.

After you have found candidates that you agree with you can click the “support” button. Candidates who have what the organization deems adequate experience need 1,000 supporters from 10 states to be placed in the May primary. Candidates without this experience need 5,000 supporters from 10 states.

In May (specific date not yet announced) the first round of the primary will begin for all candidate who have qualified. The top six candidates will move onto the second round of the primary.

At this point the six candidates must choose their running mate. The vice presidential ticket can’t be a member of the same party as the presidential ticket.

The six candidates will be narrowed down in a series of elections until one of the candidates receives 50% of the vote.

The site works to create discussion along with the election. It provides users with tools to talk about candidates and even to present candidates with questions. Other users can promote questions that they like to increase the likelihood that the question will be answered.

The organization has achieved ballot access in 22 states so far and is on track to get access in all 50. If the candidate is able to garner 15% of the national opinion in the polls s/he will participate in the debates alongside Barrack Obama and the GOP nominee (likely Mitt Romney).

Of the declared candidates, Buddy Roemer leads with 3486 supporters. However, Ron Paul, who has not announced if he will run on the party’s ticket, holds 7943 supporters.
If you are old enough to vote you can register on the organization’s website and be a part of what may be the first ever successful* online primary.

*Online primaries have been held before but they have failed to achieve wide ballot access and high poll numbers.