Here's What You Should Know About Third-Party Vote

As the United States moves forward in our presidential election this fall, it feels like many voters are more undecided than ever. Last week, the GOP nominated former reality TV star Donald Trump at their Republican National Convention, while this week, the Democratic party nominated Hillary Clinton — though neither won without some disruption. Republican delegates contested Trump's nomination, as did Democratic delegates, and both saw their fair share of protests outside their conventions. So what should you do if you want to vote outside the two major parties? Well, these Jill Stein and Gary Johnson highlights will help you pick between the two non-mainstream candidates if you're considering a third-party vote.

It's no secret that Trump and Clinton both polled at record-breaking lows this year regarding favorability as far as presidential candidates go. Politicians and lawmakers within the GOP tried to stop their own candidate for months, and Sanders delegates and supporters protested Clinton's nomination over the course of the Democratic convention. Perhaps this is the year Americans are starting to look outside of the two-party system for their candidate, and in some ways, that can be attributed to Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders' campaign calling for political establishment reform.

Americans are certainly looking to third-party candidates this year, with Johnson polling at 11 percent, and Stein polling at around 3 percent over the latter half of the month of July. The candidates need 15 percent voter support to make it on the debate stage this fall, and it wouldn't be a bad idea to hear what they have to say. So what do these third-party candidates have to offer?

On Education

Stein's platform for 2016 focuses on climate change and accessible, affordable education. Following suit with Sanders' revolutionary policy platforms, Stein wants to eradicate student loan debt and make sure that education is tuition-free from preschool through undergrad.

Johnson's platform on education would include abolishing the Department of Education, suggesting that individual states funding education without federal restrictions and guidelines will have more money to do so.

On Climate Change

Climate change and the threats it poses the planet are central to Stein's platform. Her platform calls for an end to fracking and offshore drilling, and a call to protect our water supplies. Stein has also called for transitioning to renewable energy over the next 14 years and creating jobs in the process.

According to the Seattle Times, Johnson believes that humans have "probably" had an impact on climate change. Johnson also believes in the federal government's push to protect the environment but has also pushed for punitive actions against polluters, rather than within the market.

On Military Assistance For Israel

Stein's stance on foreign policy includes opposing U.S. military aid to Israel. She told PBS that this monetary assistance is used to "fund a government which is basically committing war crimes against the Palestinian people, violating human rights, violating international law with the occupations." According to her presidential platform, Stein believes in a foreign policy "based on diplomacy, international law, and human rights," not on war.

When it comes down to U.S. support in Israel, Johnson reportedly believes in cutting all U.S. assistance to Israel. In 2011, he called the state an ally to the U.S. and suggested that "it's a mistake for us to think that we're going to dictate to them actions when it comes to Palestinian statehood."

When it comes time this fall, whether you vote Democratic, Republican, or third-party, whether you vote your conscience, or simply to stop Trump, it's OK to learn about the third-party candidates who are campaigning through the next few months.