Fusion voting gives new parties a chance to prove their strength, build constituencies, and earn real influence without acting as spoilers.

In New York, hundreds of thousands of voters have cast ballots on fusion party lines, helping demonstrate the parties electoral strength while still contributing to a coalition candidate's victory.

Fusion voting is gaining attention across the country because it gives voters more choices without acting as spoilers. A candidate can appear on multiple party lines, allowing voters to support both the candidate they prefer and the party that best reflects their values. @jefftimmer.bsky.social

Greetings all—it's #Juneteenth, a powerful day in the Black freedom struggle. In NC's history, newly emancipated Black voters allied with poor White farmers through fusion politics. That same spirit can guide us today. #FusionVoting can break the two-party doom loop—and build a real #democracy.

This #MemorialDay, we honor those who fought and died for American democracy, freedom, and self-government. One way to strengthen that legacy today?

That’s fusion voting. It solves the “wasted vote” and “spoiler” problem—giving voters real choices instead of forcing them into a system where third parties are sidelined or counterproductive.

Fusion voting used to be legal in every state—letting minor parties play a constructive role. Our two-party system isn’t inevitable; it’s a product of the rules. Fusion breaks the “wasted vote” trap—and with ~75% of Americans wanting more than two choices. @johnavlon.bsky.social @thebulwark.com

Imagine if all 50 states used fusion voting in the midterms—it could feel like night and day. Less “I win only if you lose” politics, and less of the negative partisanship that keeps the current system locked in place.

Fusion voting, in particular, is often cited as one of the most historically rooted but least understood reforms, allowing multiple parties to nominate the same candidate and giving voters a more expressive choice at the ballot box. @johnavlon.bsky.social @thebulwark.com

New data shows 70%+ of Americans want more than just two political party choices. Yet our system traps voters in the “spoiler” or “wasted vote” problem. Without changing the rules, we stay stuck in the two-party doom loop. Fusion voting offers a way forward—learn more in my new piece in Democracy.

New piece out in Democracy: A Journal of Ideas on the history and promise of fusion voting. Once legal nationwide, fusion helped build reform coalitions before being banned by major parties. With today’s two-party system struggling to solve public problems, it may be time to revisit it.

The Kansas Court of Appeals just heard arguments on whether the state’s 100+ year ban on fusion voting should stand. Judges pressed both sides on free speech, party rights, and the state’s interest in limiting ballot labels. A major test for voter choice—likely headed to the Kansas Supreme Court.

Looking for a great political show? Watch Borgen on @netflix.com. It’s a fascinating look at how a multi-party democracy works in Denmark—with bargaining, compromise, and coalition-building to actually solve problems. A striking contrast to America’s two-party dysfunction.

Book rec 📚: Fateful Hours by German historian Volker Ullrich. It traces how small mistakes, inattention, and not taking threats seriously led to the collapse of the Weimar Republic and the rise of Adolf Hitler. The parallels to today are hard to miss.

I was in Wisconsin for a fusion voting conference at @law.wisc.edu with 150 people from across the state, including the new United Wisconsin Party, coming together to rethink the party system.

Hi, Dan Cantor here 👋 at the meeting with NASS — the National Association of Secretaries of State. We’ve had great conversations with 8 of 9 Secretaries about the democracy crisis and what fusion voting could mean in their states.

Even in a tough moment for democracy, here’s some good news: across the country, people are genuinely excited about moving beyond a broken two-party system.

The Supreme Court is on the verge of gutting the Voting Rights Act, especially Section 2. That’s devastating for fair representation. But the fight isn’t over.

Remember Election Day when Elon Musk decided the NYC ballot was a “scam” because Zohran Mamdani and Curtis Sliwa appeared twice? That wasn’t fraud; it was fusion voting. Same candidate, multiple party lines, voters choose both the person and the values.

Happy New Year 🎉 Here’s to 2026 bringing more democracy, more choice, and more power for voters — fusion voting can help break hyper-partisanship and give people real options at the ballot box. Let’s make it happen. 🗳️✨

It’ll be fascinating to watch groups like United Wisconsin, United Kansas, or the NJ Moderate Party — they could build a center voting bloc with outsized influence. Big parties must now work with their minor partners, creating more meaningful representation via Fusion Voting.

Just read an excellent paper by @jrdresden.bsky.social & Deborah Apau at @protectdemocracy.org on how fusion voting and proportional representation work together to strengthen democracy.

Talking #FusionVoting over #Thanksgiving ? Start by explaining how it empowers voters, increases choice, and strengthens #Democracy. It's a way for minor parties to have a voice and for everyone to vote for who truly represents them! #ThanksgivingTalk #ElectionReform

Honoring veterans this Veterans Day means honoring their commitment to a fair, democratic process. #FusionVoting can amplify veteran voices, giving them more representation and choice in elections.

Our two-party system is broken. Republicans are dominated by an anti-democratic faction; Democrats are too fragmented to speak with one voice. A multiparty system—where factions negotiate, compete, and form coalitions—could be the way out.

Quiet but big news—the ABA Task Force on American Democracy recommends lifting bans on fusion voting to help break the two-party doom loop. A multiparty democracy could strengthen U.S. democracy.

Bruce Springsteen recently called for a new political party in the U.S.—he’s right, but the wasted vote problem keeps third parties from being meaningful. Breaking the two-party doom loop means creating a multiparty, positive-sum system where new leaders can thrive.

The government shutdown shows the danger of zero-sum politics—“I can only win if you lose.” To fix this, we need a positive-sum system with more than two parties. Fusion voting is one idea.

Fusion voting was banned ~125 years ago by major parties who didn’t like competition—GOP in the North, Dems in the South. But what was banned can be unbanned. Now, lawsuits in NJ, KS, WI are pushing back, saying voters deserve more choice & parties should have freedom to nominate. #ThisOldDemocracy

Will fusion voting lead to chaos with too many parties? Unlikely. Party-building is real work—but it’s also a chance for unheard communities to organize, compete, and lead. It happened before—suffragists, farmers, workers—and it can happen again. @centerforballotfreedom.org