In New York, the state’s Working Families Party is embroiled in a fight to maintain its ballot line, a struggle that provides insight into the squeeze smaller parties have been put under this year to maintain relevance and exert influence despite the fact that an increasing number of Americans say they would support another political party.
In New York, minor parties must maintain 2% support in elections in order to keep their ballot line. This provision was passed as part of a package that also provided public financing for campaigns. In practical terms, this means the Working Families Party needs to convince 130,000 voters to vote for Vice President Kamala Harris, on the Working Families Party line, Row D, instead of under the Democratic Party line.
