A new Web site set up for the 2004 election enables users to swap votes between different states.

The Web site, www.votepair.org, was created to promote the right of voting strategically. It allows voters in swing states to vote for third-party candidates by pairing them with Kerry voters in safe states, said Carnet Williams, one of the site's organizers.

A person in a swing state who wants to vote for a third-party candidate but doesn't want to affect the percentage of votes for Sen. John Kerry can swap his or her vote with someone who would vote for Kerry in a safe state, Williams said. "What we are looking for are third-party supporters who live in a swing state -- those are our primary targets," he said.

The site pairs two voters, and then it is up to the voters to contact each other, Williams said.

The idea for the Web site is not something new, said Eric Plutzer, associate professor of political science.

"Vote swapping was introduced in the last campaign by supporters of [Ralph] Nader," he said. "We haven't seen a number of how many people swapped for the 2000 election, but I suspect it will be substantially fewer this time."

In 2000, there were six main Web sites running, but the idea behind www.votepair.org was to bring all of them under the umbrella of one Web site, Williams said.

"In 2000, for the presidential election, a bunch of us went to similar sites," he said. "This year, we decided to contact the different operations to [have] one campaign, on one site."

Rebecca Campbell (senior-communication science and disorders) said she would be concerned about the reliability of the Web site.

"I feel like we already have legislation in order to vote; it's not up to a Web site," she said. "If there's a problem with the voting system, I think it should be a governmental decision."

The different organizers discussed the concept in July, and by Sept. 20, the Web site was online. Since then, nearly 10,000 users have signed up to participate, according to the Web site.

In Pennsylvania, 104 voters have registered to swap their vote, of which 101 have been paired, Williams said.

The Web site defines "swing states" as states in which there is no majority of voters supporting the primary candidates, but that number can fluctuate, Williams said.

"[The Web site is set up] in order to help people around the country to express the ability to vote strategically," Williams said. "It's a way for everyone to get what they want."

The Electoral College is flawed, Williams said, adding that one vote does not mean one voice.

"It allows some people who wish to register a symbolic vote to do so, without jeopardizing the chances of a second choice," Plutzer said.

Lori Simon (senior-music education) said she does not think the Web site is a good idea.

"I think your vote should be cast where you live because that's the candidate you want to vote for," she said.

Khristyn Brimmeier, western Pennsylvania spokeswoman for Kerry's campaign, would not comment on the Web site.

The site doesn't ask for the age of participants, but from the e-mail responses the site gets, Williams said there is no particular demographic that is more likely to participate.

"It's all over the place: retired, grandparents, college students. It runs the gamut as far as demographics are concerned," he said.

There are 25 organizers, and the campaign is run entirely by volunteers, Williams said. The Web site receives no funding, but people can make donations, he said.