Is there any value in voting for a third party candidate for President? Or is your vote "wasted"?

No vote is ever wasted. However, many are cast for losing candidates. If it's important to stick with a winner, you must choose one of the candidates from the two major parties. One of those will win. No doubt about it. However, in the interest of full disclosure, I have lived through two elections that were decided when a significant number of voters cast their ballots for a third party candidate, enough to enable the victory of a candidate they later regretted. Even then, though, they didn't "waste" their vote, they simply voted in a manner that caused an outcome they didn't want.

One of the two major Party candidates will become POTUS in January. Voting for a third Party candidate or staying home and not voting at all only means that one will not take part in the selection, and one’s vote has therefore been thrown away.

In years like this one where two candidates unacceptable to the majority of the voters represent the two major Parties, some think that one’s vote is wasted whether one votes or not.

if you vote for the lesser of two evils then you are voting for evil regardless.... I always suggest voting third party. but, a lot of people can argue that your vote is wasted since the elections are rigged. there are videos of people testifying that it is possible and that it has been done. Just think about all those deceased people still voting.

I'll take the unpopular argument. We've seen several posts about voting for some retired Flag officer. The vote would be wasted because it wouldn't go to affect the somewhat tight race between the two who are vastly farther ahead. That said, the caveat is "this time". The vote can be wasted this cycle but with others can build up over time to create change. Problem is we as a culture tend to want instant forever which means we're too impatient. So that's why you see so much conflict with many voters. They know their vote can affect the election, but only if cast for one of two seriously flawed candidates. It's the proverbial pick the best of the worst scenario. It will be interesting to see what the percentage is of those sitting it out this time around.

I read Abe Lincoln was a 3rd party candidate. At what point will the general population once again get so fed up with what is happening in Washington, DC that they stop voting for the candidate they hate the least?

No vote is wasted. I believe that you should vote your conscience, beliefs and values. If that happens to be for a third party candidate so be it, but at least Americans will been heard. Think about this, if 100% of Americans voted and voted their beliefs, conscience and values you would have more of a representative consensus of what America wants and could remove this ruling by mandate concept. Also maybe just maybe politicians will look up and see and take notice that they can not manipulate the masses with fancy catch phrases and phony assertions or because you have R or D affiliation. When you vote I challenge you to ask yourself this question. "who is best for America and is more in line with my beliefs and the founding fathers principles?". If you are honest with yourself, you will be surprised with your answer. Its not about winning this is not a sport, this is about doing whats right for our nation and our children.

We have a two Party system. Your vote for one of those two Party's, your non participation or your vote for a third Party candidate will only help or hinder one of the two actual Party's. Republican or Democrat. Voting for any individual because you think they are the best thing since sliced bread is naive and ignorant. Figure our which Party best supports what you believe and support that Party. (Hint: you are wearing a uniform, 99.99%of anyone else wearing a military uniform supports the Republican Party...
If you want to live in an America with three or more Party's you need to start running and supporting those Party's at the lower levels of politics.

Knowing that things could be really tight between the two major candidates, and voting for someone who has no chance of winning tells me that the voter doesn't care to make their vote count towards influencing the direction of the country. Yes it's your vote and you have the right to cast it as you please. I'm damned tired of voting against people myself. I have no doubt I could do a better job than the candidates we have been saddled with. And I would vote for me if I didn't care about who gets appointed to the courts. The next president is going to affect the rest of my life, I'll vote for the person who has the best chance of beating the person who says they want the courts to change the 1st and 2nd amendment.

If you don't vote DON'T GRUMBLE, as a saying that goes where I'm at, I vote Alternative if I don't think the candidate meets my test, YES MY Test NOT FAUX NEWS, MSNBC, CBS, ABC, ETC ETC. I have voted for REPUBS, Libertarian, DEMO, Green, in the last Governors race I voted for the guy who got 1% of the vote because neither MAJOR Party had a decent candidate. So Not a waste. A waste is NOT VOTING

I think people keep viewing Voting as if they are picking the right lotto numbers or horse at the derby. You shouldn't vote for who you think will win, you should vote for the person you think will be the best at the job. if enough people don't vote along party lines it lets the party know they need to start making good on all of those promise's.