Dozens of scholars, legal experts, party leaders and civic practitioners and over 100 attendees from across the country attended the “Parties, Power, and Possibility: Revisiting Fusion Voting in Wisconsin” daylong event Nov. 14. It was presented by University of Wisconsin Law School, the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership, the Elections Research Center, State Democracy Research Initiative, Center for Ballot Freedom and New America. 

Panels were centered around fusion voting, as Wisconsin courts consider whether to lift the state’s longstanding ban on the electoral practice. Dean Dan Tokaji provided the welcome, and Assistant Professor Nathan Atkinson participated in one of the four discussions.

Topics ranged from the history, legal implications and potential impact of fusion voting to its relevance to the current political landscape.

To learn more:

• See photos from throughout the day.

• Watch video on YouTube: 

  • Full version
    
    
  • Session 1: What Are Political Parties For, and How Can They Work Better in the United States?

    Moderator: Julia Azari - Professor of Political Science, Marquette University. Panelists: Daniel DiSalvo - Professor and Associate Dean, School of Civic Life and Leadership, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill; Lilliana Mason - Professor of Political Science, SNF Agora Institute, Johns Hopkins University; Jen Dresden - Policy Strategist, Protect Democracy; and Seth Masket - Professor of Political Science, University of Denver.

• • Session 2: Fusion Voting in Context: Historical Roots to Today's Courtrooms

    Moderator: Barry Burden - Professor of Political Science, University of Wisconsin, and Director, Elections Research Center; Panelists: Allie Morris - Ph.D. student in History, University of Wisconsin; Andy Craig - Fellow, Elections Policy, Rainey Center; Derek Muller - Professor, Notre Dame Law School; and Beau Tremitiere - Counsel & Head of National Elections and National Security Team, Protect Democracy.

• • Session 3: Fusion’s Political Benefits and Challenges: What Do We Know?
    Moderator: Alex Tahk - Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Wisconsin, and Director, Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership; Panelists: Lisa Disch - Professor of Political Science, University of Michigan; Dan Lee - Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Nevada; Lee Drutman - Senior Fellow, Political Reform program, New America; and Nathan Atkinson - Assistant Professor, University of Wisconsin Law School.
    
    
  • Session 4: Reimagining Politics in Wisconsin Under Fusion
    Moderator: Eleanor Neff Powell, Assoc. Professor of Political Science, University of Wisconsin; Panelists: Dave Deininger - Former Wisconsin Court of Appeals Judge; Peter LaVenia - Assistant Professor of Political Science, SUNY Oneonta; and Dan Cantor - Co-Founder, Working Families Party; Senior Advisor, Center for Ballot Freedom.
    
    

• Read coverage from the Wisconsin Examiner.
  
  

 

Submitted by Broecker,Jennifer on December 5, 2025

This article appears in the categories: Features

Related employee profiles: Dan Tokaji, Nathan Atkinson