Committee hears testimony on fusion/hybrid candidates and ‘two bites of the apple’ practice

Representative Kate Logan, a state lawmaker, and other witnesses told the Government Operations & Military Affairs Committee that fusion and hybrid candidacies raise logistical and political questions for Vermont elections.

Logan said fusion voting — candidates appearing on a general‑election ballot with more than one party’s endorsement — and related rules are meant to give voters broader representation within a majoritarian, district‑based system. “Fusion voting is another one of these policies, and allows candidates to affiliate with more than one party by earning more than one party’s nomination,” Representative Kate Logan said. She told the committee that 39 fusion candidates appeared on the 2024 ballot and described fusion as a way for voters to express hybrid political identities.

The issue also touches on what supporters call flexibility and critics call an opportunity for strategic filing. A…