What's happening
This bill prohibits political candidates in New York from being nominated by more than one party for any public office.
Why it matters
Eliminates the practice of “fusion voting,”. where a single candidate can appear on multiple party lines, thus potentially reducing strategic alliances between major and minor parties and changing how parties gain influence and negotiate in New York politics.
Could significantly impact minor parties’ relevance and leverage,. since they often cross-endorse major party candidates to maintain ballot access and policy influence; this bill may threaten their survival or force them to run their own, less competitive candidates.
May alter voter choice and behavior,. as voters will no longer be able to support a candidate through a preferred minor party line, potentially reducing turnout or changing which candidates voters feel comfortable supporting.
Could increase party polarization,. since candidates will only be able to seek nomination from one party, possibly discouraging coalition-building and moderating influences that fusion voting can encourage.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Ban Fusion Party Nominations
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to election law
- Referred to election law
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3416
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 29, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. PRETLOW -- read once and referred to the Committee on Election Law
AN ACT to amend the election law, in relation to prohibiting political candidates from being nominated by more than one party for any public office
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 6-122 of the election law, as amended by chapter 511 of the laws of 1993, is amended to read as follows:
§ 6-122. Designation or nomination; eligibility, restrictions. A person shall not be designated or nominated for a public office or party position who (1) is not a citizen of the state of New York; (2) is ineligible to be elected to such office or position; [or] (3) [who,] if elected will not at the time of commencement of the term of such office or position, meet the constitutional or statutory qualifications thereof or, with respect to judicial office, [who] will not meet such qualifications within thirty days of the commencement of the term of such office; or (4) has already accepted another party's nomination for such public office or party position.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04349-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.