The Green Party of New York agrees with Monday’s Decision by the Democratic Party State Committee to Ban Electoral Fusion, though for fundamentally different reasons.
Fusion, often presented as a Tool to expand Democratic Choice, is in reality Ballot Lines-for-Hire used to entrench the Two-Party system and provide Political Cover for the Democratic and Republican Parties.
It enables Patronage Machines that masquerade as Small Parties and shifts Power from Rank and File Party Members to Candidates and Campaign Donors. And it Contributes to an Electoral Arena where it is all but impossible for Legitimate, Independent Third-Parties like the Greens to Compete. It also is a way for Minor Parties to get enough Votes in the Governor's Election to acquire a Ballot Line. Fusion breeds Confusion.
There are multiple Examples of the Problems that Fusion Voting Causes. The Working Families Party notoriously gave Governor Andrew Cuomo its Ballot Line last year, after running a Primary Candidate on an Anti-Cuomo Platform.
The Independence Party has a Large Membership made up of Voters who Mistakenly believe they are Not Registered in any Party, and their Ballot Line is Coveted by both Parties. The State Board of Elections is looking at changing the Voter Registration Form by adding as the First Choice on the Select a Political Party, Independent or No Party Preference.
Republicans chase the Conservative Party Line as Democrats do the Working Families Party (WFP). Remember the Women's Equality Party, rumored to have been Created by Cuomo in 2014 purely for its Endorsement, and which has since been left to Atrophy and Disappear.
And let’s not forget Judicial Candidates, who seem to collect Ballot Lines as if they were Baseball Cards.
It is difficult to see how Fusion Voting serves the Interests of Democracy.
The Green Party Proposes Common Sense Electoral Reforms to Expand Democracy and Voter Choice.
Ranked-Choice Voting (RCV) ensures the Winner of an Election has the Absolute Majority of Votes and Eliminates the so-called “Spoiler Effect.” It Enables Voters to Cast Votes for the Candidates they want rather than Against the Candidate they like the Least. Under RCV a Candidate can Only be on One Ballot Line.
Proportional Representation would Award Seats to Parties based on their Vote Percentages in an Election, making All Votes Count.
Banning Opportunity-to-Ballot (OTB), which is Backdoor Fusion, would Prevent Parties and Candidates from Hijacking other Parties’ Ballot Lines. All too often we have seen Democrats and Republicans using OTB to Lie to Green Voters while Petitioning, and Seeding Fake Green Registrants in order to Steal the Green Ballot Line and force an OTB Primary.
Independent Redistricting Commissions, Automatic Voter Registration, and Full Public Campaign Financing are all Important Electoral Reforms as well.
“Unlike the major parties’ fusion allies, the Green Party runs its own candidates and offers voters an independent, electoral alternative. If the Democratic Legislature really wants to make a bold move, they will end fusion, end OTB, and strike a blow against electoral corruption. Let it be a first step towards widening access to the polls and promoting competition between real political parties,” said Party Co-Chair Peter Lavenia.
Another way to address Fusion Voting in New York.
In New York, A Wilson Pakula is an Authorization given by a Political Party to a Candidate for Public Office that allows the Candidate Not Registered with that Party to Run as its Candidate in a given Election. The name refers to the Wilson Pakula Act of 1947, authored by State Senator Irwin Pakula and then-Assemblyman and Future Governor, Malcolm Wilson, which Forbids Candidates from Receiving the Nomination of a Political Party if they are Not Registered as a Member of that Party, unless they Receive Permission to enter the Primary from Party Officials representing a Majority of the Vote in the Jurisdiction.
So a Major Party would have to Create some way to Punish their Candidates who try this Method to get on a Minor Party's Ballot Line.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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