Comments on: Fusion Ballot http://domemagazine.com/craigsgrist/cr1209 Covering Michigan's People, Politics, and Policy Tue, 22 May 2012 00:50:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Dan Wholihan http://domemagazine.com/craigsgrist/cr1209/comment-page-1#comment-235 Dan Wholihan Wed, 23 Dec 2009 23:18:15 +0000 http://domemagazine.com/?p=383#comment-235 Interesting articles. I've been following the con-con issue heavily and just found this website. While I oppose a con-con due to the Pandora's box that would be opened by one with its process and unknown enforceability of campaign laws laws, I can support a fusion candidacy. I like the ideas of minor and major parties supporting the same tickets when it is called for. However, I don't think the NY style will affect things much. Every senate race since Buckley was an R or D. Every house race there I've followed has been the same way. I'm less sure about state house and state senate. The only possible thing I can really see is the occasional split leading to a minor upset like there was in NY-23 when the GOP leadership blundered in a big way by choosing a candidate in DeDe Scozzafava that did not fit that district (and neither did Doug Hoffman for that matter on the Conservative party ballot). NY-23 was an aberration however because there was no primary. Under the NY system here, you'd probably have the conservative party/R fusions in Zeeland, the Right to Life/R fusions in Livingston County, and Gun Rights/party fusions in those areas, but it would be the same people winning. If people want moderate candidates, moderates need to vote in the primaries. I don't see things changing otherwise. So while I support the fusion system, I don't see it changing the ideological factor much in elections. Interesting articles. I’ve been following the con-con issue heavily and just found this website.

While I oppose a con-con due to the Pandora’s box that would be opened by one with its process and unknown enforceability of campaign laws laws, I can support a fusion candidacy. I like the ideas of minor and major parties supporting the same tickets when it is called for.

However, I don’t think the NY style will affect things much. Every senate race since Buckley was an R or D. Every house race there I’ve followed has been the same way. I’m less sure about state house and state senate.

The only possible thing I can really see is the occasional split leading to a minor upset like there was in NY-23 when the GOP leadership blundered in a big way by choosing a candidate in DeDe Scozzafava that did not fit that district (and neither did Doug Hoffman for that matter on the Conservative party ballot). NY-23 was an aberration however because there was no primary.

Under the NY system here, you’d probably have the conservative party/R fusions in Zeeland, the Right to Life/R fusions in Livingston County, and Gun Rights/party fusions in those areas, but it would be the same people winning.

If people want moderate candidates, moderates need to vote in the primaries. I don’t see things changing otherwise. So while I support the fusion system, I don’t see it changing the ideological factor much in elections.

]]> By: Jay Simon http://domemagazine.com/craigsgrist/cr1209/comment-page-1#comment-212 Jay Simon Thu, 17 Dec 2009 05:55:29 +0000 http://domemagazine.com/?p=383#comment-212 Yes what Michigan needs is the problematic system of a fusion ballot (i.e. NY-23). You'd have GOP and Dems more factionalized than ever in this system. If applied to Michigan, you would not see a creep to the center, but ideological ideology contests in places like Holland or Detroit. It is this system that has created the vacuum of leadership in the NY legislature. With the leadership void created by term limits, this would only compound the problem here. Also, you are incorrect with your Nassau County Executive example. The Republican won, not the Democrat. Yes what Michigan needs is the problematic system of a fusion ballot (i.e. NY-23). You’d have GOP and Dems more factionalized than ever in this system. If applied to Michigan, you would not see a creep to the center, but ideological ideology contests in places like Holland or Detroit. It is this system that has created the vacuum of leadership in the NY legislature. With the leadership void created by term limits, this would only compound the problem here.

Also, you are incorrect with your Nassau County Executive example. The Republican won, not the Democrat.

]]> By: Jim Brazier http://domemagazine.com/craigsgrist/cr1209/comment-page-1#comment-208 Jim Brazier Thu, 17 Dec 2009 00:22:16 +0000 http://domemagazine.com/?p=383#comment-208 A fusion ballot will not do much for minority parties and may even weaken the two major parties. A party that cannot win benefits will eventually vanish. Take the case of Michigan's Human Rights Party. What could save minority parties in a fusion system are voters voting reliably as a bloc under minority party labels. But why go to the extra trouble and expense if in the legislature minority party members find that they must join major party caucuses for any impact upon legislation and the levgislative process. According to Ruff's proposal, single-issue voters or public opinion survey identification of voters in the electorate would manifest itself in the actual voting results. It would manifest voter preferences more expressly than a two-party system. But is it worth it for the minority parties and the voters? A fusion ballot will not do much for minority parties and may even weaken the two major parties. A party that cannot win benefits will eventually vanish. Take the case of Michigan’s Human Rights Party. What could save minority parties in a fusion system are voters voting reliably as a bloc under minority party labels. But why go to the extra trouble and expense if in the legislature minority party members find that they must join major party caucuses for any impact upon legislation and the levgislative process.

According to Ruff’s proposal, single-issue voters or public opinion survey identification of voters in the electorate would manifest itself in the actual voting results. It would manifest voter preferences more expressly than a two-party system. But is it worth it for the minority parties and the voters?

]]> By: Dave Lambert http://domemagazine.com/craigsgrist/cr1209/comment-page-1#comment-204 Dave Lambert Wed, 16 Dec 2009 20:35:00 +0000 http://domemagazine.com/?p=383#comment-204 Great idea. In this era of scientific redistricting, it might bring more competition to the general election ballot. Great idea. In this era of scientific redistricting, it might bring more competition to the general election ballot.

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