News

August 24, 2022 Opinion | NorthJersey.com

I’m suing NJ to fix election laws. Why? We need fusion voting

If we want democracy to be more than a history lesson for our children and grandchildren, we need change. Fusion voting isn’t just common sense; it could be the key to unlocking a less divisive, less violent, and more representative future.

---

July 7, 2022 Opinion | The Washington Post

3 ways to build a pro-democracy coalition

"Democracy defenders can experiment with new parties to pull voters away from the GOP. For example, Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-N.J.), who is in a tough reelection fight in New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District, recently received the endorsement of the new Moderate Party. If the party prevails in its lawsuit against the state’s ban on ‘fusion’ parties, Malinowski would appear on the ballot under both the Democratic and Moderate banners."

---

July 6, 2022 Opinion | The New York Times

A Viable Third Party Is Coming, and It’s Starting With a New Jersey Lawsuit

The Moderate Party is an experiment: an alliance between Democrats of all stripes, independents and moderate Republicans hoping to win an election while pursuing a reform to the election laws that could empower swing voters to save our democracy from toxic polarization.

---

June 8, 2022 Opinion | The Washington Post

Could a New Political Party Defang Radical Politicians?

These sort of “fusion parties” used to be common throughout the 19th century, but the entrenched parties set about to outlaw them to protect their political turf.

---

June 7, 2022 The New York Times

New Jersey Centrists Seek to Legalize Their Dream: The Moderate Party

Under fusion voting, multiple parties can nominate the same candidate, who then appears more than once on the ballot. Proponents say it allows voters who don’t feel comfortable with either major party to express their preferences without “wasting” votes on candidates with no hope of winning. ... Protect Democracy became involved, Mr. Tremitiere said, because the group believes that fusion voting “can help provide a meaningful off-ramp to escalating extremism and polarization.”

---

May 11, 2022 The Bulwark

Will the Utah Senate Race Break the Partisan Doom Loop?

Until the late 1800s, minor parties throughout the country would frequently partner or “fuse” with major parties, endorsing the same candidate to build a majority coalition. In casting a ballot for that candidate, voters would specify which of the endorsing parties they supported. This system allowed voters to support candidates with a realistic chance of winning, while also highlighting to their candidate (and political class writ large) their support for the minor party platform.

---

November 1, 2021 New America

How to Strengthen American Democracy and Fight Back Against Illiberal Authoritarianism by Rebuilding the Center

American democracy is facing three existential threats: hyper-partisan polarization, the illiberal authoritarian takeover of one of our two major parties, and deep distrust in our institutions of government ... Under fusion balloting, a Center Party could form, and choose to endorse either of the Democrat or Republican congressional candidates—whichever candidate it views as more moderate and more committed to the rule of law.

---