NYS Campaign Finance Commission's Decisions Could Impact Third Parties

The New York State Campaign Finance Commission released its Decision on Political Party Ballot Access.

All New York Political Party's, other than Democrats and Republicans, is Facing the Biggest Threat to its Existence in New York as a Commission addressing New York’s Campaign Finance Laws moves forward with a Plan to make Ballot Access Harder to Achieve.

The Commission, on Monday, Approved a Proposal that would Eliminate the 50,000-Vote Threshold in a Gubernatorial Election for Political Parties to Achieve a Ballot Line every Four years.

The New Requirement sets it at 130,000 Votes, or 2% of the Total Vote, whichever is Higher, every Two Years in Gubernatorial and Presidential Races.

Using the 2% or the 130,000 Votes, the Democrats, Republicans, and the Conservative Party, would be the only Party's with Ballot Access.

“The extreme increase in ballot qualification requirements are a clear abuse of state power to advance the Governor’s political agenda,” said Working Families Party (WFP) State Director Bill Lipton.

Another Change, from 15,000 to 45,000, the Number of Signatures Independent Candidates Running for Statewide Office needed to Qualify for a Place on the Ballot. Two of the Panel Members said they Voted Yes believing that a Court will likely Overturn the Change because the Commission was Not Charged by the Legislature and Cuomo with looking at such Changes in the Election Law.

Then there was the Removal of Fusion Voting. Fusion Voting is Safe for Now.

The Panel was Informally led by a Cuomo Appointee and the State Democratic Chairman, Jay Jacobs, who has been Critical of Fusion Voting, the Practice that Allows Candidates for Office to Run on Multiple Ballot Lines. Jacobs, in effect, helped Strike a Blow to Minor Parties Operating in New York.

The Commission was Formed by Lawmakers and Cuomo, as a Compromise in a Battle over Public Financing of Political Campaigns. The Commission has taken a Broader Purview of its Powers, assessing the Overall System of Campaign Funding in New York.

The Commissions Work can still be Altered by the State Legislature if Lawmakers Return in a Special Session before the End of year or, in Theory, could still be Altered Next year in the New Legislature Session.

At the Moment there is Not much of a Rush by Lawmakers to Return to Albany. As the Commission wrapped up its Work on Monday, One Democratic Lawmaker, Assemblyman Walter Mosley (D-57th District), Criticized the Threshold Change. “Third parties are an essential part of the electoral system in New York, shining light on important issues that otherwise may not get the attention they deserve. The new thresholds for party qualification passed by this commission are unacceptable. We should be making it easier for third parties to make it on the ballot, not harder, and I continue to fight against this increase.” he said.

The Legality of having an Unelected Group enact Any Major Election Law Changes already has been Challenged in State Court by the Working Families Party, the Conservative Party, and Republicans in the Senate and Assembly.

The Conservative Party, which is the Only Minor Party that would still be Granted Ballot Access under the Changed Rules said in a Statement that its “principles get in the way of any celebrating. We continue to believe that Governor Cuomo's commission lacks the constitutional authority to make law -- only a duly elected legislature can do that,” said Party Chair Jerry Kassar.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker