Massachusetts has four initiatives on its November 2006 ballot. The one that would legalize fusion, and also make it easier for a party to remain on the ballot, will be “Question Two”. The initiative would make it easier for a party to stay on the ballot by changing the definition of “party”. The existing definition requires a party to poll 3% of the vote for one statewide race, every two years (it is also a party if it has registration membership of 1% of the state total). The initiative would alter the definition of “party”, so that it is a group that got 3% for a statewide race at either of the last two elections.

If that proposed change had been in effect in 2004, the Green and Libertarian Parties would still be qualified in Massachusetts. In 2004, president was the only statewide office up in Massachusetts, and neither party could poll 3% for president. However, those two parties in recent years always poll 3% for U.S. Senate; it was just bad luck that there was no U.S. Senate race on the ballot in 2004.

The Working Families Party (indirectly) is the force behind the Massachusetts initiative. The only two unqualified parties on the ballot this year in Massachusetts are the Green and Working Families Parties, and it is likely they will both poll 3% for some statewide race, and be qualified for 2008. If the initiative passes, they would also then be qualified for 2010.