The Independent View: Opportunity to Ballot

In New York State, Opportunity to Ballot petitions, a write-in vote, once meant to give party members more say over who their nominees would be, are more predominantly used by the two major parties to win additional lines on the ballot for their candidates, allowed by New York Fusion voting, some election officials say.

Fusion allows a candidate to be cross-indoesed by more then one party.

Opportunity to Ballot petitions were originally intended as a way to allow regular voters in a particular party a choice of candidates in those instances where their party did not make any endorsements. Lately, it has become a way for the major political parties such as the Republican and Democratic parties to circumvent the endorsements of the minor political parties such as the Conservative and Independence parties.

It's not only an issue for party leaders, but a financial issue as well. In years with countywide races, primary challenges will require polling places to be staffed in every election district where Opportunity to Ballot is used. In off-years, like in 2007, those costs are not expected to be incurred. But any time there is a primary challenge, even for Conservative and Independence voters, it requires at least one polling place, even though few Independence and Conservative voters are expected to cast a vote on Primary Day. The cost of operating polling places has prompted election officials to consolidate the Independence and Conservative primaries into one location, the distance involved could negatively impact voter turnout. ''It's upsetting they are not being treated with the same courtesies the major parties are,'' said one of the candidates eligible for the write-in, and who is actively opposing the Board of Election's decision and says the consolidation is illegal. The board disagrees, and believes only operating one polling place for the upcoming Independence and Conservative primaries makes more sense than operating separate polling places throughout the four towns.''These are minor party primaries. The voter turnout is going to be extremely low and it costs up to $1,000 to open up a polling site,'' the board said.

What are your thoughts and does your state allow Opportunity to Ballot?

Michael H. Drucker
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