This election season has brought in diverse political ideologies, drawing in large numbers of voters not just from the two staple parties, but from those who are unaffiliated and independent. Indeed, this season is the season of the often unheard and unrepresented.
These voters bring very different expectations, and considering two of the candidates’ slogans—”Make America Great Again” and the “A Political Revolution Is Coming”— they bring with them very different demands.
Enter the “Bernie or Bust” movement: a growing coalition of voters who refuse to vote Democrat should Bernie Sanders not win the nomination. For some, this means writing Sanders’ name on the ballot in protest and affirmation of Bernie’s revolutionary mindset, but for others, this means not voting at all.
Many people see Bernie Sanders as the progressive saint pushing to bring the Democratic Party back to true progressive values. His policies would shift the party back to the left after what many Democrat voters have felt is an increasingly corporatized and “Republican-lite” transition.
James Scolari, a photographer who was interviewed with Yahoo! News said, “To me, ‘Bernie or Bust’ means I will not vote for Hillary Clinton under any circumstances. And if that means I get a President Trump, I feel like he’ll be farther left than she would be anyway.”
For Bernie supporters who are outside of the Bernie or Bust movement like Ryan Moore, a member of the volunteer leadership team and co-chair of digital and social media at the local Lane County for Bernie organization, these sects are confusing.
“Personally, I’m very curious as to how people have this mindset,” Moore said. “Our position [at Lane County for Bernie] pretty much mirrors Bernie Sanders’ position. He has said multiple times that he will back the Democratic nominee no matter who it is, and he has called on his supporters to do the same.”
Others from around the country have also shared the belief that regardless of political affiliation, those supporting Bernie need to continue giving support to the nominee and practice their right to vote. Moore, however, understands how this is for some voters.
“Put yourselves in these people’s shoes,” Moore said. “Bernie’s campaign is a big tent campaign. A large portion of his supporters are not traditional Democrats. He’s drawing in independents and unaffiliated voters into the party, so, in some sense, it’s tough to say ‘vote Democrat’ because these aren’t traditional Democrats.”
Moore thinks that those across the aisle have made this a high-stake election for many citizen— both during the election and in the future presidency.
“As a gay man, I personally have so much at stake this election, and it’s vital that everyone who is pledging support to Bernie can carry that support through to the nominee,” Moore said. “Bernie himself is saying it benefits all of us to elect a Democrat … whether or not it’s him.”
Having Trump and Sanders in this election has brought in many voters that are distanced from the staple parties. Should these voters not succeed, it wouldn’t be surprising if they disappear as quickly as they arrived. What Moore proposes, however, is voting based on an opposition to the Republican Party, not necessarily in support of the Democratic Party.
This dilemma — whether to settle with a party or cast a protest vote — is a difficult one, and both hold merit. In reality, however, neither position is one that is conducive to the electorate process because neither actively support change in the broken electoral process.
Numerous analysts believe that Bernie and his policies will invariably find their way into the election and the presidency — but only if his supporters hold true to their claims and hold the presidency responsible, a legitimacy that can only be achieved by voting and becoming a constituent. Bernie Sanders’ enormous presence and popularity this season has been a protest in itself. His effect will be felt long after the race is finished — regardless of who is nominated.