NY Moves To Ban Independence From Party Ballot Lines

At the height of its Power, the Independence Party in New York had registered more than 400,000 voters in the State.

I was a Member of the Party, Elected Six times, over 12 years, representing the 73rd Assembly District, as a County, State, and Executive At-Large Member, taking parrt in the Thre Campaigns of Mayor Bloomburg. Today I am registered as an Independent.

For years, Political Observers, Elected Officials, and Candidates, suspected many of those Voters were duped into enrolling in a Party when they meant to Register as “blanks” or No Party Affiliation at all.

I had contact with many of my 3,500 Voters and helped any who joined by mistake.

A Law signed this week by Gov. Kathy Hochul (R) is meant to put an end to that.

The New Law will restrict the use of “Independence” or “Independent” from the Name of a Ballot Line, in order to reduce the chances of confusing Voters into Registering for a Party when they mean to be true Registered Independent Voters.

A Large enrollment for the Independence Party in New York, enabled it to leverage real sway with Candidates who sought their Ballot Line in General Elections.

Candidates in New York can run on multiple Ballot Lines, because of Fusion Voting.

With Fusion Voting, more than One Political Party can support a common Candidate, so the name of a Candidate can appear on Party Lines on the same Ballot. 

“A party known for preying on independently-minded New York voters to inflate its rolls should have no place in our democratic system,” said State Sen. James Skoufis (D-39th District, Hudson Valley), who Sponsored the Measure with Assemblyman Jeff Dinowitz (D-81st District, Bronx).










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker