The Independent View: Courts Eliminate Straight-Ticket Voting in Two States

Thanks to Richard Winger of Ballot Access News for this post.

Straight-ticket Voting, also known as Straight-Party Voting, enables a Voter to Select One Political Party's complete Slate of Candidates for every Office by making a Single Mark on the Ballot. As of September 6, 2018, Seven States provided for Straight-Ticket Voting Option. The Term may also be used informally to refer to the Practice of a Voter Individually selecting Candidates belonging to a Single Party.

The following States provide for Straight-Ticket Voting:

Alabama
Indiana
Kentucky
Oklahoma
Pennsylvania
South Carolina
Texas: Repeal of Straight-Ticket Voting is Scheduled to take effect September 1st, 2020.
Utah

I am against this type of Voting.

On September 5th, 2018, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit Removed Michigan's Straight-Ticket Voting Option. The only reason this option was there is that earlier, a U.S. District Court had Struck Down the 2016 Law that Removed the Device. The U.S. District Court had said that Removing the Option injures Black Voters, but the Sixth Circuit Disagreed. The Case is A. Philip Randolph Institute v Johnson, 18-1910. As a result, the 2018 Michigan Ballot will be the First in the History of Government-Printed Ballots not to have this Option. It will also be the First Michigan Ballot to lack Party Logos, because the Legislature Removed them in 2017.

On September 12th, 2018, the New Mexico Supreme Court ruled that the Secretary of State, Maggie Toulouse Oliver (D), has No Authority to add the Straight-Ticket Voting Option to the 2018 Ballot. There is No Statutory Authorization, but on August 29th the Secretary of State said that She intends to put the Option on the Ballot. She Depended on a State Law saying the Secretary of State is responsible for the Form of the Ballot. Unite New Mexico v Toulouse Oliver, SC37227.