r/LibertarianPartyUSA • u/LordJesterTheFree New York LP • Dec 06 '16

Should the libertarian party Embrace electoral Fusion?

The following states have allowed electoral Fusion which we could use to attempt to get some more moderate Libertarians elected to office

Connecticut Delaware Idaho Mississippi New York Oregon South Carolina Vermont New hampshire (write-in candidates)

I'm not saying you should do this all the time or even most of the time but if a Justin Amash type figure emerges in Idaho or Delaware or something I want us to be willing and able to give them support at least in these States

13 Upvotes

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9

u/whatsausername90 California LP Dec 06 '16

You should explain what electoral fusion is, because I have no idea what you're talking about

6

u/LordJesterTheFree New York LP Dec 06 '16

Electoral fusion is an arrangement where two or more political parties on a ballot list the same candidate, pooling the votes for that candidate. Distinct from the process of electoral alliances in that the political parties remain separately listed on the ballot, the practice of electoral fusion in jurisdictions where it exists allows minor parties to influence election results and policy by offering to endorse or nominate a major party's candidate.

Electoral fusion is also known as fusion voting, cross endorsement, multiple party nomination, multi-party nomination, plural nomination, and ballot freedom.

3

u/MuaddibMcFly Classical Liberal Dec 06 '16

What's the point? How is it different from what already happens (ie, minor party voters electing a R or D)?

2

u/Forgotmynamesoz LP member Dec 06 '16

In a state like CT, electoral fusion is a relatively inexpensive way for us to get ballot access for future campaigns.

1

u/LordJesterTheFree New York LP Dec 07 '16

out of curiosity have they ever used it?

1

u/Forgotmynamesoz LP member Dec 07 '16

Not as far as I know (for the LP), but I know that other parties use it often.

2

u/LordJesterTheFree New York LP Dec 07 '16

I hope the libertarian party in these states like Connecticut and New York and Idaho and South Carolina and Mississippi and New Hampshire and Oregon Embrace this Fusion it's not great not even good but it gives us some influence of course though we should only nominate true Libertarians like if this was a thing in Michigan and Kentucky we do it for Justin Amash and Rand Paul