Newspaper Article

Third Parties Fill Political Voids

By Micah L. Sifry. Micah L. Sifry is an individual project fellow of the Open Society Institute, researching the prospects of third parties

1998

Overview

EVER SINCE Ross Perot ran for president in 1992, third parties have been on the rise. This year, 89 percent of America's voters will face a ballot that includes a minor-party or independent candidate. The electorate hasn't had such a broad choice at the polls since 1934. Except in New York State. Unlike the other 49 states, here smaller parties frequently cross-endorse or \"fuse\" with major-party candidates. (Eight other states, including Connecticut, allow fusion, but it is common practice only in New York.) To get and keep a line on the ballot, minor parties need to draw 50,000 votes for their candidate for governor. The ability to offer or withhold a second ballot line to a major candidate gives minor parties leverage and broadens the political debate, without forcing people to \"waste\" their votes. As a result, third parties have been a significant factor in many a state election. In 1993, Republican Rudy Giuliani got 62,000 votes on the Liberal line, pushing him over the top against Democrat David Dinkins. Gov. George Pataki owes his election to the Conservative Party, which pulled 328,000 votes for him in 1994. This year Sen. Alfonse D'Amato worked hard to keep from losing the endorsement of the Right-to-Life Party, since a competing candidate on that line could damage his re-election chances.

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