{news} (NH Advocate)3rd party cross endoresments "Get The Party Started"

[Green Party-CT]

Thursday, August 09, 2007
Get the Party Started 
A new state law could finally put third parties on the map, and on your election ballot. 
By Evan Brown 
    

  Imagine seeing Gov. Jodi Rell's name on the Communist Party line on your election ballot. Or Sen. Chris Dodd on the National Socialist Movement (Nazi Party) line.
  These highly unlikely scenarios are at least theoretically possible under a new state elections law that allows third parties to cross-endorse candidates for office without first having to run a candidate for that seat. Connecticut's election laws presently allow third parties to cross-endorse major party candidates (meaning that candidate's name appears twice on the ballot, a distinct advantage) provided that third party ran a candidate for that seat the prior election and won at least one percent.
  But a new law signed July 5 permits third parties to cross-endorse candidates without first running their own candidate for that seat. The law has the potential to catapult minor parties, like the Working Families Party, from bit players to statewide players.
  WFP has built its party, in part, on cross-endorsing candidates, and the new law gives them (and other parties) wide latitude to put their name on state election ballots without having to run their own candidates.
  "We went from being able to cross-endorse in one congressional district to all five," says Connecticut WFP Executive Director Jon Green. "It enables us to practice our unusual brand of politics statewide. It means more choices, and that makes elections more interesting."
  Interesting is right. As confirmed by Lou Button, staff attorney for the Secretary of the State's office, now any party can cross- endorse any candidate without the candidate's knowledge or approval. Unless specifically challenged by the candidate, his or her name will show up on the ballot as the nominee not only for whichever major party is running the candidate, but also for all the minor parties who cross-endorsed him or her. Herein lies the potential for mischief-making.
  As posited above, Rell could show up on the ballot as a Communist, and Dodd as the National Socialist Movement's candidate. If the Guns and Dope Party ever sends out tendrils beyond its California base, perhaps Rob Simmons will run again. And for that matter, how could Lieberman stand a chance against a Ned Lamont backed by the Pansexual Peace Party (whose goal is to "promote positive political progress and the partnership paradigm through prurient propaganda")?
  Though any campaign worth its bumper stickers would catch and ruthlessly crush such an unauthorized cross-endorsement, it is nice to dream. It is clear, though, that this new law is a small but real triumph for grassroots democracy, as well as the plucky folks who run the Thermodynamic Law Party, which may now see a reason to expand to Connecticut.

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    Tim McKee cell (860) 778-1304 or (860) 643-2282
   National Committee Member of the Green Party(Connecticut)





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