The July 17 issue of the Salem, Oregon Statesman Journal has this thorough article about SB 326, the bill that eases ballot access for independent candidates and legalizes fusion. Although there is no new news in the article, the middle section of the story is interesting for its explanation of the devastating impact of the “primary screenout” on State Senator Ben Westlund’s independent candidacy for Governor in 2006.
Richard, I really like the idea of Fusion Politics. It was used in North Carolina, and resulted in a strong Populist party. It worked so well that Democrats had to effect a coup in the late 1800s to force their way into office. At that time, they were affiliated with white supremecists and big business. There were around 1,000 black elected officials when Fusion was in play. After the coup, the election system was changed, Fusion was eliminated, and the right to vote was stolen away from the black population.
Fusion can be done without special voting machines and works with paper, optical scan, DREs, and Lever machines like in New York.
I wish people would promote Fusion Voting and abandon IRV – trying to use IRV in the United States is like trying to put a square wheel on a car.
Thanks for your excellent work on ballot access issues, Richard.
Richard, I meant to ad this link in case anyone wants to know more about how well Fusion did work in North Carolina, and the coup.
http://www.northcarolinahistory.org/encyclopedia/58/entry