New Yorkers, do you like fusion voting, or even care about it?

[rob in cal]

I've read a little about fusion voting and it sounds pretty good to me, letting third parties endorse major party candidates, but allowing the voter to vote for the major party candidate on the ballot line of the third party.   Its certainly not a replacement for proportional representation or other third party friendly electoral reforms, but I like things that give the electorate more freedom.  I'm wondering what all the New Yorkers out there feel about it. 

[Padfoot]

I'm not a New Yorker, but I think this policy is more harmful to third parties than helpful.  A small party that "fuses" itself with a large party has little motivation to differentiate itself from that larger party.  By doing this the smaller party essentially gives up its status as a party and simply becomes a member of the larger party's coalition.

[rob in cal]

Yes, it seems to be the case that the Conservative party is basically an adjunct to GOP and Working Families to Dems.  But, if these parties don't like the major party nominee then they can run their own candidates, and do sometimes.

[justfollowingtheelections]

It's great.  I love it.  The more parties, the better, even if they support the same candidate as the 2 major parties.

[Smash255]

Yes, it seems to be the case that the Conservative party is basically an adjunct to GOP and Working Families to Dems.  But, if these parties don't like the major party nominee then they can run their own candidates, and do sometimes.

True, and in NY you also have the Independence Party who isn't closely associated with either side, though they will typically endorse the incumbent.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

South Carolina also has fusion, however candidates for the two major parties here will typically decline a third party endorsement, even if offered.  For instance, Obama could have easily picked up a couple of additional ballot lines, but rejected them to run as only a Democrat.

[Alcon]

I'm not a New Yorker, but for my part, I am jealous.

[Brittain33]

I like fusion parties in principle, but it did lead to the Liberal Party becoming a corrupt patronage racket and a caricature of a party. It's tough when voters are ill-informed.

[Bacon King]

It seems pretty neat.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

I liked it when I voted in New York.

[Eraserhead]

I don't really care about it. It seems kind of pointless but if that's what floats your boat, more power to you.

[Erc]

As a Republican who doesn't really support the aims of the Conservative Party of New York, my experiences have generally been negative...see, e.g. when Weld dropped out of the 2006 Gubernatorial primary after Faso got the Conservative nod.  I'd rather have our nominees decided by our own membership rather than those of another party, thank you very much...

[Smash255]

As a Republican who doesn't really support the aims of the Conservative Party of New York, my experiences have generally been negative...see, e.g. when Weld dropped out of the 2006 Gubernatorial primary after Faso got the Conservative nod.  I'd rather have our nominees decided by our own membership rather than those of another party, thank you very much...

The Conservative Party has hurt the New York State GOP, by forcing the state GOP to adapt to a more conservative platform similar to the national GOP, which is suicide in NY.   Of course the inept leadership of the state GOP chose to go along with it.

[Eraserhead]

As a Republican who doesn't really support the aims of the Conservative Party of New York, my experiences have generally been negative...see, e.g. when Weld dropped out of the 2006 Gubernatorial primary after Faso got the Conservative nod.  I'd rather have our nominees decided by our own membership rather than those of another party, thank you very much...

The Conservative Party has hurt the New York State GOP, by forcing the state GOP to adapt to a more conservative platform similar to the national GOP, which is suicide in NY.   Of course the inept leadership of the state GOP chose to go along with it.

You guys are reminding me about one of the better aspects to it...

[Smash255]

As a Republican who doesn't really support the aims of the Conservative Party of New York, my experiences have generally been negative...see, e.g. when Weld dropped out of the 2006 Gubernatorial primary after Faso got the Conservative nod.  I'd rather have our nominees decided by our own membership rather than those of another party, thank you very much...

The Conservative Party has hurt the New York State GOP, by forcing the state GOP to adapt to a more conservative platform similar to the national GOP, which is suicide in NY.   Of course the inept leadership of the state GOP chose to go along with it.

You guys are reminding me about one of the better aspects to it...

Sure is.

[Smid]

I think IRV is a little bit more "honest" in a sense. A party has it's own candidates, but the minor parties can still determine results in some close races.