Fusion Ballot Cross Endorsed Candidates?

Submitted by LymePilot t3_yr0qom in Connecticut

What is the deal with Connecticut being one of a handful of States that allow political parties to cross endorse candidates? What are the pro's and con's of this?

I'm having a hard time seeing anything positive about this practice but fill me in on what I am missing?

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asspirate420 t1_ivrdm0z wrote

Same amount of votes either way. It allows minor parties the chance to stay on the ballot and stick around long enough to hopefully run their own candidates. Anything to potentially escape the two party system.

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LizzieBordensPetRock t1_ivrc21c wrote

Cross endorsement mean 3rd parties can have representation without running their own candidates. For example - working families is a more progressive party. They occasionally run their own candidates but not being endorsed by them tells me maybe the democrat candidate may need me to look closer to see if they align with my values.

It also tells candidates hey this thing is important, look at that whole 2%.

Ok. Maybe less that last part but the potential is there!

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[deleted] t1_ivrakep wrote

What’s the issue?

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[deleted] t1_ivrkap9 wrote

My ballot had a guy on both the Democrat and the Republican lines.

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DanHassler0 t1_ivrlmnf wrote

Pretty common for local town races. I've seen it a number of times. Never anything larger that I know of.

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BobbyRobertson t1_ivt6i1s wrote

Fusion Voting helps move the main parties in certain directions.

Let's say the Working Families Party wants to shift the tax burden off user fees and sales tax, and increase the income tax to make up for it

The WFP goes to a Democratic candidate and says "Hey, we'll endorse you on our party line, and our party members will vote for you, but only if you promise to back our tax plan". If the Democratic candidate wants votes from that minor party, they might say yes and accept the endorsement.

This helps allow groups of voters to apply pressure on the major parties outside of the primary process. If one of the two major parties selects a candidate who is too extreme or too moderate, they might alienate one or more of the minor parties.

If you're a voter that's conscious about specific issues, and you find a minor party that cares about those issues, you can vote across their fusion line knowing they already did the work to vet candidates that support those issues.

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zgrizz t1_ivrd0nq wrote

Just another way to game the system. It allows people who don't want, in this case, to vote Democrat, but want to support the Democrat that their third-party purchased to get their vote.

CT needs a law saying no candidate may appear on a ballot more than once.

Like most smart states.

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giant_toad42 t1_ivt656b wrote

There's nothing wrong with that.

But, I'm seriously thinking of starting a parody party. Get it on the ballot and run people who have funny names - like Ben Dover, Harry Butts, Mike Hawk, etc.

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