Vermont already permits two parties to jointly nominate the same candidate. However, in Vermont, when a candidate is the nominee of two different parties, he or she is only listed on the ballot in one place, so a voter who votes for that fusion nominee can’t indicate a preference for either political party.

Vermont state representatives David Zuckerman (Progressive-Burlington) and John Moran (Democrat-Wardsboro) have introduced HB 621. The bill would change fusion so that candidates nominated jointly by two parties would be listed twice on the ballot, so that a voter voting for such a candidate could demonstrate a party preference. This is called “disaggregated fusion.”

Vermont had disaggregated fusion before 1977, but changed to aggregated fusion that year.

On February 8, the California Secretary of State issued this press release, announcing that a proposed initiative is now free to start circulating signatures. It would repeal the measure passed by the voters in 2008, to establish a non-partisan citizens redistricting commission.

Georgia Politics Unfiltered, a blog for Georgia politics, has this commentary on SB 359, which would make it far easier for a party that is already qualified statewide to be able to also run candidates for district and county office. Thanks to Third Party Daily for the link.