Pro-Life Voters Don't Have To Pick 'Lesser of Two Evils' | Opinion
On November 5, pro-life voters will be faced with a stark choice at the ballot box. They'll have the option to choose Democrat Kamala Harris , who promises to advance the abortion advocacy of the Biden administration and codify Roe v. Wade into federal law. Alternatively, they may opt to support Republican Donald Trump , who, while increasingly distancing himself from pro-life policy issues, continues to tout his appointment of three U.S. Supreme Court Justices who contributed to overturning Roe. Trump regularly asserts support for abortion exceptions and insists related laws are matter for the states, with no intention of moving the issue forward at the federal level.
While these major party options are bleak for pro-lifers, they should know that they don't have to vote for a proverbial "lesser of two evils" on Election Day. Instead they can cast a ballot for the greater good. There is a reliably pro-life option in November: the American Solidarity Party (ASP), which not only champions their values on the issue of abortion, but is committed to a holistic pro-life politics centered on the dignity of every person from conception to natural death—from womb to tomb. I am the party's nominee for president, and I encourage pro-life voters to support the ASP ticket this November.
A third-party vote is not wasted, nor does it "spoil" the outcome of an election. Though frequently repeated, these claims are canards. A wasted vote is one not cast, or cast for a candidate who does not represent a voter's values. A vote has authority; it is not to be squandered. And a third-party vote is measurable.
In the current political climate, though, it's tempting to take a back seat. With partisan sniping and legislative gridlock dominating news cycles, many voters are debating whether to go to the polls at all. A third-party option should be an impetus, allowing pro-lifers truly to vote to their conscience on Election Day.
After decades of lesser-evil voting, a quarter of American voters profoundly dislike both choices. Large numbers of voters even in the two major parties are either unenthusiastically supporting their own party's candidate or wishing for a better alternative. Meanwhile, in nearly every state, a major-party candidate wins by a margin far in excess of the vote total of every third-party candidate combined. In a handful of swing states, the vote is closer, but parties like ASP, which draw voters from many different political backgrounds, are not simply "taking votes" from one side.
It's also worth noting that the claim the pro-life movement owes fealty to one political party is precisely the reason that party and its nominee act like they can take pro-life voters for granted. Rather than tying ourselves to a politician who has not demonstrated any lasting commitment to the values of the pro-life movement, a strong showing for a truly pro-life alternative will show that no politician or political party can take its constituents' support for granted. If the pro-life movement and pro-life voters do not show this willingness to stand up for our values, then there is nothing holding politicians accountable. We will only see further erosion of our ability to push the pro-life agenda forward in this election and beyond.
In the wake of Roe's demise, the pro-life movement has a profound and generational opportunity to help create a culture of life in America. With no expectation of support from the abortion-focused extremism of the Democratic Party , and the Republican Party scuttling its long-held pro-life platform stance, the ASP stands firm in its commitment to respect and protection for all human life. There is no place for capitulation, political pragmatism, or milquetoast policy measures regarding the most significant human rights issue of our era. We cannot allow the lives of the unborn to become a political football, and we cannot trust the major parties to keep from making it one.
If pro-lifers prefer to avoid holding their noses while voting for the lesser of two evils on Election Day, I encourage them to breathe freely this November. By voting third party, they won't compromise their beliefs or values, but they will send a message: that their votes must be earned.
Peter Sonski is the 2024 presidential nominee of the American Solidarity Party.
The views expressed in this are the writer's own.
