Minor parties sue Michigan to allow fusion voting on ballots
Two lawsuits challenge Michigan’s ban on fusion voting, which would let candidates appear under multiple party labels on ballots.
LANSING, MICHIGAN — Two minor political parties filed lawsuits in state court last month challenging Michigan’s prohibition on fusion voting, a practice that would allow multiple parties to nominate the same candidate and list them under different party labels on the ballot.
The lawsuits, filed in mid-May in both the state’s Court of Claims and Ingham County Circuit Court, seek to overturn Michigan’s longtime ban on the electoral practice used in only a handful of states nationwide.
How Fusion Voting Works
Under fusion voting, a candidate can be listed under as many party labels as nominate them, with votes cast under all party lines counted together for their total. In New York, where fusion voting is currently used, a candidate can appear on the ballot under both the Democratic Party and the Working Families Party, a progressive minor political party, and receive the combined vote total from both listings.
Proponents argue the system allows voters to support a party that better represents their views while still backing a candidate with legitimate electoral viability. Rather than being forced to choose between two major party options, voters can express their political preferences more precisely while supporting competitive candidates.
Appeal to ‘Politically Homeless’ Voters
Jeff Timmer, former executive director of the Michigan Republican Party and current senior advisor for the anti-Trump Lincoln Project, said fusion voting addresses the needs of voters he describes as “politically homeless” in the current system.
Timmer explained the practice is particularly important for former Republicans and conservative-leaning independents seeking alternatives to MAGA Republicans without voting for a Democrat in name, while still supporting candidates with reasonable chances of winning elections.
“Voters are not merely consumers choosing between two prepackaged brands,” Timmer wrote in a press release accompanying both lawsuits. “They are citizens with principles, priorities, and associations.”
Legal Challenge to Anti-Competition Claims
The plaintiffs characterize Michigan’s current law as anti-competitive, arguing it artificially limits voter choice and party representation. The legal challenge comes as minor parties across the country face increasing difficulty gaining ballot access and meaningful participation in elections dominated by the two major parties.
Michigan joins several other states where advocacy groups have pursued fusion voting as a way to strengthen minor party influence and provide voters with more nuanced electoral options. The practice remains rare nationally, with only a small number of states currently permitting candidates to appear under multiple party endorsements.
The lawsuits represent the latest effort by minor parties to expand their role in Michigan’s electoral system, where third-party candidates often struggle to gain traction against well-funded Democratic and Republican campaigns. Court dates for the legal challenges have not yet been announced.
