Bruce Bartlett Advocates Fusion Voting

In a long, and somewhat problematic article for Forbes alleging to provide the explanation for "Why Third Parties Can't Compete," commentator Bruce Bartlett advocates the adoption of fusion voting:

One option I have long favored . . . would be fusion voting. Under such a system, third parties could cross-endorse major party candidates and have their votes aggregated. Such a system has long operated in New York, which has a Conservative Party, Liberal Party and many others. Oregon has recently adopted this system as well.

The main benefit of fusion voting is that it would force major party candidates to seek the additional nomination of third parties and work to accommodate their interests. In New York, for example, the failure of a Republican candidate to also secure the Conservative Party nomination virtually guarantees defeat.

Fusion voting also allows for interesting alliances and provides useful information to voters. A Republican with cross endorsement from the Liberal Party might be viable in a heavily Democratic area. Those who would never vote for a Republican might be willing to do so by pulling the Liberal lever.

In the piece, Bartlett argues that third parties "can't compete" because a vote for a third party is seen as a "wasted vote." However, he provides no explanation for why so many Americans continue to vote for Republicans and Democrats.