Neighbor News
Assemblywoman Galef & Senator Valesky Promoting Legislation to Stop Bait and Switch Practices in Political Parties
Creating a Distance between Those Who Seek to Influence the Law and the People who Make Them
With election season upon us once again, candidates will soon be circulating petitions for support, and working to make it onto the party ballot in November. However, concerns have been raised regarding the apparent use of bait-and-switch practices by political parties.
Earlier this year, as part of her package of sweeping reform bills, Assemblywoman Sandy Galef introduced Assembly bill 8622, which is carried in the Senate by Senator David Valeksy under Senate bill 6673. This legislation increases transparency and ethics regarding the creation political parties by prohibiting the name change of any independent body seeking ballot nominations.
Most recently in 2014, after receiving the 50,000 votes necessary to qualify as a party, the Stop Common Core Party received a line on the ballot. However, not long after those elections took place, the organization’s leaders changed its name to the Reform Party. Along with this name change, there was also a change in the party’s mission, misleading the voters who helped create it.
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By prohibiting this practice, Assemblywoman Galef and Senator Valesky are seeking to protect voters from those who deceive voters and take advantage of the trust granted by them. This legislation is crucial in not only protecting voter interest but also to ensuring the democratic process is successful.
The bill has recently advanced to the Assembly Rules Committee, and is awaiting movement in the Senate.
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“We need to be honest with the public in every way. Preventing these bait-and-switch practices are critical. This legislation would assure that this behavior never occurs again”, Assemblywoman Galef stated.
“New political parties establish themselves and their names by gaining the support of people who believe in the party’s platform,” Senator Valesky said. “Once a party is established, it should not be allowed to change its name, thereby misleading voters. This legislation would increase transparency and help to prevent deceptive practices.”
