Today we will be discussing straight-ticket voting (STV) and its role in the upcoming 2020 election.
Straight ticket voting, also known as straight-party voting, is a practice in which voters may select a political party’s entire list of candidates with a single ballot mark. STV has been used as a voting option for many years, with its peak in popularity being the 1960s and 1970s. In recent years, many states have eliminated STV as a part of their election processes.
For the 2020 election, 6 states will be offering STV as an option to voters: Alabama, Indiana, Michigan, Kentucky, Oklahoma, and South Carolina (Indiana has eliminated STV for at-large races only).
The practice of STV has various advantages and disadvantages. Proponents argue that the practice adds efficiency to the voting process by inducing shorter lines, thereby adding an increased incentive to vote. Since voters using STV only have to fill out one box, they save a lot of time. STV is noted as especially helpful in large counties, where ballots can be extremely lengthy.
On the other hand, those opposed to STV maintain that the practice discourages well-informed voting, as voters simply check one box and may or may not research individual candidates. Opponents argue that the practice offers no flexibility, and fuels a strict two-party system in which voters cannot vote across party lines.
In the 2020 election, the effects of STV, or the lack thereof, on voter turnout remains to be seen. In Texas, this will be the first year that the state does not implement STV. Many Texas residents are against this change, stating that the resulting long lines will increase the risk of COVID-19 spread. Furthermore, Texas Democrats believe that their voters will be especially affected, notably voters of color living in large urban counties with lengthy ballots.
The practice of STV in American elections highlights the complexity of our voting practices and the many factors that have the potential to influence voter turnout in the upcoming election.
Sources:
Straight Ticket Voting States - NCSL https://www.ncsl.org/research/elections-and-campaigns/straight-ticket-voting.aspx
Pros and Cons of Straight Ticket Voting - Monique Lopez https://www.uppermichiganssource.com/content/news/Pros-and-cons-of-straight-ticket-voting-389338892.html
What is Straight Ticket Voting? - FindLaw.com legal writers and editors https://www.findlaw.com/voting/how-u-s--elections-work/what-is-straight-ticket-voting.html