Letters

New York is one of a handful of states that practices fusion voting. Fusion voting allows more than one political party to nominate the same candidate, allowing that candidate to appear on a general election ballot on multiple lines. It’s a flawed system that often confuses voters.

Typically, the Republican Party and the Conservative Party link up for cross-endorsements, as their ideologies closely align. Same goes for the Democratic Party and the Working Families Party. The major parties want those minor party endorsements, as they increase the odds of victory for any given candidate. The more lines you have, the greater the chances of winning. The Conservative line yields approximately 1,500 votes, and the Working Families Party line yields approximately 250 votes.

Full disclosure, I am a former Democratic Committee member but have since left the party and the committee because I believe that Democratic Party voters do not have a clear understanding of how fusion works, and that the designating petition they have signed includes candidates who are also running on the Conservative line.

Same goes for Conservative Party voters — you have a right to know why your line has nominated Democrats. Did anyone explain that to you when you were signing that designating petition, or were you simply asked to sign for a slate that you assumed included candidates who support your ideals? Are you being told now when the canvassers knock on your door and urge you to vote for a slate?

We’ve heard the line, “I’m fiscally conservative but socially liberal.” That’s fine, but there are fundamental differences between the Democratic Party and the Conservative Party that are directly at odds. Differences that mean a great deal to voters on either side.

To their credit, the Working Families Party denied their line to any candidate who accepted the Conservative line. Agree or disagree with the Working Families platform, they deserve credit for knowing who they are and maintaining a standard.

We have an election coming up on November 7. You’ll receive mailings and see signs that implore you to vote for row this or that. Don’t be fooled by the fusion confusion. A row doesn’t create local policy. A row won’t read your emails and answer your calls. A row doesn’t create budgets. Most importantly, a row may contain candidates who do not support your ideals.

Vet your candidates and vote for the best people. Avoid the fog of fusion, and you’ll find some very good people who are worthy of your vote.

Craig Catalanotto

Speonk