Archon Fung and Stephen Richer discuss whether fusion voting expands representation and strengthens smaller parties—or whether it muddies party lines and confuses voters.
In the wake of New York City’s recent mayoral election, fusion voting is in the spotlight. Fusion voting—also called fusion balloting, cross-endorsement, or multiple-party nomination—is an election practice where two or more political parties nominate the same candidate for an office, allowing the candidate’s name to appear on the ballot lines of each endorsing party.
Following the New York City mayoral election, Elon Musk called the fusion ballot a “scam,” while advocates herald the practice as more democratic. This week on Terms of Engagement, co-hosts Archon Fung and Stephen Richer will discuss whether fusion voting expands representation and strengthens smaller parties—or whether it muddies party lines and confuses voters.