Election Day is approaching in the United States. People who have not voted by mail or in advance can go to the polls on November 5 to elect the next president of the United States.

In addition to voting by mail, early or in person, citizens can express themselves within the democratic process by casting a blank or spoiled ballot, or abstaining altogether. Likewise, if they don’t like either of the major party candidates, or if they do not wish to vote for any of the options, they can write someone else’s name on the ballot in protest.

Blank vote and abstention: What does it mean?

According to Ballotpedia, the act of leaving one option blank on a ballot while filling in other options is commonly referred to as an “undervote.” Citizens have the right to cast an undervote if they choose to do so.

According to the specialized site, “Undervoting does not directly affect candidate elections with a majority requirement to win.” However, an undervote can affect the results of electoral measures. For example, when a proposal, such as decriminalizing abortion or not, is on the ballot. In some states, a blank vote means a vote against. This is because there may be a requirement that a certain percentage of the ballots cast during the vote be reached in order for a measure, especially a constitutional amendment, to be approved.

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It is important to mention that those who wish to cast a blank vote should not spoil the ballot or fill out a part incorrectly, as this could result in a spoiled vote. This also happens when ballots are damaged.

On the other hand, according to usa.gov, a candidate’s name can be added to the ballot. In some states, voters can add the name of a candidate who is not on their ballot. Ballots usually have a space provided for writing the candidate’s name in by hand.

In addition, voters can choose not to vote. The 2018, 2020 and 2022 elections were among the highest-turnout U.S. elections of their respective types in decades. About two-thirds (66%) of the eligible voting population turned out for the 2020 presidential election, according to the Pew Research Center.

On the other hand, citizens who did not vote in any of the three elections lean towards the Republicans by 46% compared to 41% towards the Democrats, but how much does abstentionism affect an election?

When a large part of the population does not participate, it can be an indicator of a high level of discontent, and it may not reflect the feelings of the entire population. Low participation can also lead to a weakening of representation, which can impact the design of public policies.

As for who benefits from this type of vote, according to experts, it benefits the party that obtains the highest percentage of votes in the election because it reduces the number of valid votes and that translates into representation.