Not in our first past the post system. A third-party vote in the presidential election is effectively throwing away your vote. The time to vote for who you want instead of against who you don't is in local elections and primaries.
No. The individuals will work with other like-minded people across the government to accomplish their goals. The party affiliation helps you understand who they will plan to work with and what goals that group will be striving to accomplish. That is ultimately the most important thing to consider when voting: which group will be empowered to advance their goals.