Ending fusion voting in New York state politics has been a hot button issue throughout the Empire State’s political landscape, with more recent stats involving top dogs within state politics. Instead of speculating on the motivations of those pushing for limiting the long standing practice, let’s look at the positive impact fusion voting has had on New York politics.
In a brief summary, fusion voting allows for individual politicians to run for the nomination of multiple parties, allowing them a spot on the general election ballot on multiple lines, depending on how many party endorsements they earn. This not only gives candidates who put in the extra effort a broader voter base to draw from, but it also allows them to be more directly accountable to voter groups.
Perhaps the best part about fusion voting is its empowering of minor parties. The first-past-the-post system used in the United States almost always reduces elections into a duopoly between Republicans and Democrats. Our fusion friendly foundations allow for a vibrant array of third parties unrivaled by most states.
New York’s minor parties have historically been influential in state politics. The Conservative Party helped end the reign of Rockefeller-Javits liberal Republicanism. The Working Families Party have helped launch left wing rebellions, the most recent being Cynthia Nixon’s failed primary against Governor Andrew Cuomo, while the Independence Party gave back-bone to the now defunct Independent Democratic Conference.
The system is by no means without its flaws, the most glaring of which is the opportunity for “sore losers” to run in the general election on a seperate party line. However, these comebacks are rarely successful and have little impact on most elections. Overall, New York’s fusion laws offer residents one of the most varied political landscapes in the country and deserves to be preserved.
