News

February 16, 2026 Democracy: A Journal of Ideas

Fusion Voting, Fusion Parties: Escaping the Two-Party Doom Loop

There’s an answer to the question of how we crawl out of the present-day polarized quicksand. It’s called fusion voting through minor parties, and its time has come.

November 14, 2025 Wisconsin Examiner

UW-Madison conference weighs if fusion voting can make politics healthier

"The event centered around fusion voting, which is the practice of allowing more than one political party to nominate the same candidate on a ballot. Currently used in Connecticut and New York, the fusion voting system means the candidates on the left can appear on the ballot under both the Democratic Party and the smaller Working Families Party while candidates on the right appear for the Republican Party and the Conservative Party."

November 8, 2025 The Fulcrum

Why Mamdani and Sliwa Appeared Twice on the New York City Ballot

As more and more voters in the U.S. seek alternatives to the two major parties, fusion voting may provide an initial first step towards a multi-party democracy. It can encourage minor parties to build their organizational capacity and eventually push them to demand more thorough electoral reforms, such as proportional representation. It can help voters get used to voting for and identifying with alternative parties. Importantly, fusion voting doesn’t have to be limited to New York and Connecticut: efforts to reintroduce fusion voting in states like Kansas, New Jersey, and Wisconsin are already underway.

November 4, 2025 PolitiFact

“The New York City ballot form is a scam” because “mayoral candidates appear twice.”

Historically, cross-nominations were used to elevate issues including the abolition of slavery and enhanced political representation into the mainstream, wrote three legal experts for the American Bar Association in 2024. "It allows voters the ability to vote their values and send a message to the candidate that he or she should be attentive to the minor party's concerns."

August 25, 2025 New Jersey Monitor

The New Jersey Supreme Court’s chance to strengthen democracy

The wisdom of the New Jersey Constitution’s emphasis on the preeminence of freedom of association and free expression of voters, parties, and candidates would once again place New Jersey in the forefront of a critical opportunity to advance and strengthen American democracy.

August 1, 2025 National Civic League

Fusion Voting Just Might Make a Difference in Our Hyper Partisan Climate

"Fusion voting isn’t a magic fix—but it’s a smart, constitutional step toward making our democracy more responsive to the people it serves. If we want our leaders to work together, we need to change the rules that reward extremism and division. Fusion voting just might be the spark that reignites collaboration—and gives voters a reason to believe again."

July 9, 2025 Daily Record

Americans desperately need more political choice. NJ could lead the way

"There’s a remarkable court case underway in New Jersey that could help us break out of the two-party “doom loop.” Two other states, Kansas and Wisconsin, have similar cases, but New Jersey’s is the furthest along and will likely be the first one decided."

May 6, 2025 News 8 Now

Wisconsin lawsuit wants to allow candidates to be listed under multiple parties on ballots

"Fusion voting has a historic legacy in the Badger State. The lawsuit argues that the Republican Party formed in Wisconsin because of fusion voting."

April 29, 2025 Wisconsin State Journal

Group sues to let candidates run under multiple parties

"The lawsuit is filed against the Wisconsin Elections Commission. Plaintiffs include United Wisconsin members, including the group’s executive director, Kristine Andrews; former Democratic Dane County Sheriff David Mahoney; and Schultz, a former Republican state Senate Majority Leader."

April 25, 2025 Wisconsin State Journal

Fusion voting could revitalize Wisconsin politics | Dale Schultz and Dave Mahoney

"United Wisconsin, via fusion voting, could moderate both parties by creating competition for centrist votes and sending the message that we expect our elected officials to compromise and cooperate around core principles. That would truly be transformative."

April 13, 2025 Wisconsin State Journal

Could the same candidate run under separate parties? Wisconsin group wants to try it

"If fusion voting were to return to Wisconsin, leaders of United Wisconsin say, the group would seek not to nominate independent candidates but rather interview and nominate a candidate from one of the two major parties. At that point, the candidate would appear on the ballot twice, once under their major party and again under United Wisconsin’s banner."

December 11, 2024 NJ Spotlight News

Appeals court hears arguments in Malinowski ‘fusion voting’ case

In the Malinowski case, a number of pro-democracy groups that include the Brennan Center for Justice and ACLU-NJ argued that New Jersey’s 1921 ban on fusion voting is unconstitutional because it infringes on a number of rights, including the right to vote and the rights to free speech and political association.