7 Oct 2024 3:37 pm
Vegas » 07 Oct 2024, 2:24 pm » wrote: ↑ Who said anything about a third party? An abstention means that the total number of votes cast is reduced by one, but it doesn't affect the margin between candidates. If the election is close, abstentions can play a significant role by not contributing to the vote tally of any candidate.Technically, an abstention is a neutral action—it neither adds to the winner's total nor detracts from the runner-up's. Its impact depends on how many people abstain and the margin of the race.
again... my statement was;
"in American politics, any vote not cast for the runner-up is mathematically identical to a vote cast for the winner."
An abstention is not a vote cast for anyone.