Connecticut, like New York, uses party column ballots, and determines the order of parties on the ballot by their gubernatorial vote. At the November 4, 2014 election, the vote for Governor of Connecticut was: Democratic 528,669 (48.64%); Republican 500,329 (46.03%); Working Families 23,684 (2.18%); Independent Party 22,878 (2.10%); independent candidate Joe Visconti 11,337 (1.04%).
The Working Families Party has enjoyed the third line on Connecticut ballots for the last four years, but the Independent Party this week almost displaced it to the fourth line.
The Republican Party has had the top line for the past four years, but as a result of this week’s election, it slips to the second line.
In the 2010 election, the Working Families Party got 2.30%. Both in 2010 and 2014, it cross-endorsed the Democratic nominee, Dannel Malloy. In 2010 the Independent Party had run its own nominee, Thomas E. Marsh, who had received 1.54%. In 2014 the Independent Party cross-endorsed the Republican nominee.
It appears the 22,878 votes cast for the Independent Party in their co-nominating of the GOP nominee came up short in giving him the victory.
Still this should be encouraging to the Independent Party and I encourage them to continue these efforts. Co-nomination is the only way to eventually win a “seat at the table.”
The Independent Party should look now to the 2016 elections, and use this time to find out why people will not affiliate with them. Sometime, simply voter ignorance, will keep a voter from voting for a 3rd party ticket because they have been falsely informed by a “friend,” or even an election official, that their vote for a 3rd party is really never counted. We must battle this in all states where it may occur. And I think there are serious laws when such information is given to a voter by a poll worker. Such should be reported to election officials immediately, giving names and other information so that such corrupt election officials can be dealt with.
There are some 35% of the voters in this country who are Independent. There is no reason why most of them should not be willing to affiliate with the Independent Party or at least some other party which has ballot position, and are in a state where party registration or affiliation is permitted or required as a condition for voting.
The Elections of 2014 are over. Let’s begin today toward the Election of 2016 and work for better results.