Every year since 1996, a Green Party nominee runs for President, and loses with on average, less than a percent of the vote. In a country with a two-party system where all of the other parties (and there are many) are left in the dust, you might be asking what the point is of joining the Green Party. You might even be thinking that the name "Green" suggests that this party consists of a bunch of hippies who sit on the lawn discussing getting marijuana legalized and stopping war. But, the Green Party is serious business.

What ideas does the Green Party stand for?

When the Green Party was founded in 1984, they released Ten Key Values to help America understand what they were about. The values over the years have changed slightly, for example Post-Patriarchal Values is now Feminism and Gender Equity. The number one value for them in today's government is Grassroots Democracy. This could be why Bernie Sander's supporters have taken such a liking to them, because they built a grassroots movement with him as well. They want to shut down the idea that the corporations run the government. Because a lot of the time, these people are hurting us by owning big banks, fossil fuel companies or fueling our wars for profit.

The Green Party wants to take them all down.

Who is the main nominee for the Green Party this upcoming election?

The Green Party's convention has nominated with a large amount of support, Dr. Jill Stein. You have probably heard of her since a lot of people are willing to vote for her in order to stop a Hillary or Trump presidency. She is not a politician but, has been active in the political scene since the 1990's when her patients kept coming down with illnesses that she knew were linked to the environment. She currently holds the record for the most votes in a general election, because she has already ran for President in 2012! Jill is also a supporter of the higher minimum wage AND Black Lives Matter. It's no wonder a lot of younger people are trying to get her to be our first woman president.

Is it actually possible for Jill Stein to win?

Believe it or not, it is! With a lot of support, Jill might be able to participate in debates on a national scale alongside Donald and Hillary. If this happens her exposure might skyrocket, and she might get a large percentage of the vote. The reason people don't vote for Green Party candidates is because they don't believe they can win. With Bernie supporters behind Jill...it's possible!

Has anyone actually ever won any election from the Green Party?

While third party chances are slim, there are over one hundred officials in the government right now who are registered to the Green Party. This makes it one of the highest ranking third parties. Here in New York, there are nine people who hold high political office who are Green Party officials. This includes Mayor of Greenwich, Deputy Mayor of New Paltz and members of town council in many towns.

Can you vote for Green Party anywhere in the United States?

Sadly, no. While 90 percent of states are either still deciding or have her on the ballot, some states like Oklahoma have already vetoed the idea of putting third party nominees like Jill on the ballot. Because America has a two-party system that usually gets the attention of the media and the majority, states can choose not to show third party candidates if there aren't enough people who vote them onto the ballot.

Why does the Green Party get so little coverage by media in election years?

Up until this election year, third party candidates received little coverage because most people in America rely on Democrat vs. Republican in the presidential election. But, with movements like Bernie Sander's revolution and Democracy Spring, people are not itching for a change in the way government is run. While it may not happen all at once, having people in large numbers now contribute to campaigns like Jill Stein 2016, the media generates more interest in third party nominees.

What is so special about the Green Party this election?

The Green Party this election serves as an alternative for the nominated Democratic and Republican nominees. Since Bernie Sander's campaign was cut short at the Democratic Convention, his supporters who do not want to vote for the lesser of two evils have decided to vote for Jill Stein to set a precedent. While there are many months until the election, seeing this all play out in the general election may have a surprising outcome.

Isn't a vote for Jill just one less vote for Hillary to defeat Trump?

Technically, if enough people decide to vote for Jill Stein there could be a big difference in the outcome of the election. Don't let this stop you from joining the Green Party. Your vote is your vote and you can do whatever you want with it. Realistically by the time November rolls around, the general population that does go out and vote will be voting for one of the two-party candidates. Media coverage is again skewed towards the two major parties and if the older demographics who can vote don't go out of their way to see the movements online, the polls won't vary more than a few percentages. Your vote for Jill if she does not win will not be a "wasted vote" as many people threaten. You will be voting for your principles, and maybe even the first female president if her supporters are lucky enough.

What if for some reason I read this article and I don't live in America? Can I still go Green?

Believe it or not, yes you can! The Green Party is all around the world, in more than thirty countries. Canada, New Zealand, Peru, Poland, Slovakia, Spain and Turkey are all among countries that have Green Parties (sometimes called the Greens). Most of the countries share in the same values: ecology, social justice and grassroots.