(All else being equal) who would you vote for in a general election?

[tpfkaw]

Sequel to https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=140136.0

Option 3 or sometimes option 2 for me, maybe option 1 in rare cases.

(And yes I know it should be "whom" - it's just impossible to proofread the poll options well...)

[courts]

2 or 3, presumably.

[Хahar 🤔]

Obviously it depends on what the election is for.

[I Am Feeblepizza.]

Options 2 or 3. Of those, I lean towards Option 2 because they have a better chance of actually being elected than Option 3.

[Marokai Backbeat]

Obviously it depends on what the election is for.

What this man said. Different elections have different levels of priority.

In a House or Senate seat, possibly 2. For President, most certainly 1. A throw-away seat, 3. But of course alot is hanging on the curious definition of option one, by saying "barely closer to you than your opponent."

But for a wormyguy poll, this is improvement.

[Cincinnatus]

I'll support a minor-party candidate if I do in fact agree with them just about all the time.  However, I'm more likely to vote for the person I agree with a little less, if they're more electable.  For Presidential, option one is best, though being from NY, the option generally doesn't matter in such race. 

I'll tell everyone I think so-and-so is a great third-party/Independent candidate.  Realistically though, who I really support, and who I believe has a shot at winning, can be drastically different (I would assume this would occur for most people during some election).  So, if I could do something to help that #3 guy, and he jumped in polling enough to gain a legitimate chance, sure.  It's really sad that America is entrenched in this two-party system, because even though I want a third-party, or even fourth party option to be viable candidates, it's basically a meaningless ballot if I voted for them (though because of the way our Presidential elections work, many people's votes are generally only a atta-boy anyway for participating in the democratic system). 

[Antonio the Sixth]

Let's not kid ourselves, option 1 most of the times. Option 2 when it's really worth it, almost never option 3.

[lowtech redneck]

Option 1; the Supreme Court is simply too much of an issue for me not to vote pragmatically (which I'm inclined by nature to do, anyway).

[Napoleon]

Option 2. This is where the electoral college can actually come in handy.
Imagine Obama vs. Huntsman vs. Bernie Sanders.

[TheGlobalizer]

2.  I support candidates, not Don Quixotes.

[Hash]

Obviously it depends on what the election is for.

^^

for Parliament: probably 1
for mayor/city council: 2 (1 if the race involves defeating some distasteful incumbent where anybody is better than it)
for city council/school board: 3

[Roemerista]

2.  I support candidates, not Don Quixotes.

Says the man with banners supporting Huntsman and Johnson...

As for me, I support Don Quixotes a great deal of the time... I vote for who I agree with period. And if I don't like any, I leave that part blank.

[Torie]

Generally option 1. 

[TheGlobalizer]

2.  I support candidates, not Don Quixotes.

Says the man with banners supporting Huntsman and Johnson...

As for me, I support Don Quixotes a great deal of the time... I vote for who I agree with period. And if I don't like any, I leave that part blank.

I probably should have said "I vote for candidates..."  I support on principle but vote on practicality, unless no practical option is acceptable.

[dead0man]

I think the "lesser of two evils" thing does nothing but hurt us all and gives us the worst kinds of politicans and laws.  I went with number 2 in the poll.