Explain Like I'm 5 (ELI5)

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ELI5: Why do only the two biggest parties in the US a chance to win an election? (feddit.org)

submitted 3 weeks ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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I mean, there is a variety of intriguing political parties, but it's still always "Republicans or Democrats". Why?

(Disclosure: I'm German, never been to the US.)

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

they use their power to suppress third parties nationwide so voters only ever have two choices.

How do they do that?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 weeks ago

There are several ways. Some states have made it harder for candidates to get on the ballot, which is one method of suppressing third parties. Sometimes they sue and challenge a third party's ballot status, as was done to Jill Stein several times this year. In some states, they don't really have to, as they can use their unlimited funds to ensure their names are the only ones heard in the media.