Question

significance of third parties
third party candidates are often accused of \stealing\ votes from other parties and upsetting the outcomes of elections. but the results of independent campaigns are not always so black and white.

• driving discourse: independents can popularize topics that leading parties choose to ignore, upsetting the normal bounds of what candidates are willing to discuss and leading to unpredictable outcomes.
• motivating voters: the unique stances of independent candidates sometimes earn them votes that would not have gone to any other party, shifting the dynamics of elections.
• successful campaigns: on occasion, third party candidates gain their own traction and even win, leading to new and influential movements.

which of the following is true regarding third parties in major elections?

• they break the american electoral system.
• they are a common source of political corruption.
• they contribute to unpredictable election outcomes.

Explanation:

The provided text states third parties can push discussion of ignored topics, gain unique votes, and on occasion win, leading to unpredictable election outcomes. The other options are not supported by the given information.

Answer:

They contribute to unpredictable election outcomes.