State Commission Could Propose End of Fusion Voting

A commission named by Governor Cuomo to design a public campaign finance system for New York elections may upend another New York electoral tradition: candidates running on multiple party lines.

Common Cause of New York says the commission will release its recommendations on Wednesday...and the legislature then has 20 days to call a special session and vote on them, or they automatically take effect.

Media reports say the commission will propose an end to fusion voting, or running as -- say -- both a Republican and a Conservative at the same time. They also want to raise the number of votes statewide a minor party needs to get every four years in order to remain an official party on New York State Ballots.

Both New York's Conservative and Working Families parties are opposing such a change, as is Common Cause. Working Families says instead of a strong public financing system, the governor's commission is launching an attack on them for politica reasons.


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