The Good & Bad of Straight Ticket Voting

Voting – especially in our current political climate – can be stressful. Oftentimes, voters can feel overwhelmed standing at the voting booth making a decision candidate by candidate, for many, it is easier to straight party vote. While straight-party voting is only an option in seven states; Alabama, Indiana, Michigan, Kentucky, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Nevada, it is often seen as the ‘easy way out’. By checking one box, you are able to cast your ballot for every candidate of your chosen political party. This does not typically allow for the consideration of third-party candidates and does not encourage voters to be familiar with or educated on each candidate or state question prior to heading to the polls. During his time as the United States' first President, George Washington was quick to warn citizens against party loyalty, now, nearly 27.2 million registered voters in America have the option to do just that, should they decide to go vote. There are a variety of views regarding straight-party voting, but many lay roots in systemic issues, or the lack of accessibility to comprehensive voter information.

Prior to the grand-scale political reorganization that took place during the 1960s through Richard Nixon’s Southern Strategy, a majority of ballots cast were straight-ticket ballots. As the Civil Rights Movement charged on, both Democrats and Republicans experienced nationwide changes, but in the South, these party shifts were felt at the local level. Jim Crow was still deeply institutionalized, and voters in the South supported these policies on local ballots but tended to vote for Republicans on Federal matters. As these shifts were happening, there became fewer defining factors between the parties, leading voters to make issue-specific decisions. Political polarization was at an all-time high then, as it is now. To cast a ballot based on party rather than a candidate or issue holds both positive and negative intentions, but being an informed voter takes utmost importance in this discussion. 

First, we will look at the positives of straight-party voting. The MIT Election Data and Science Lab (MIT Election Lab, 2022) explains that this form of voting can relieve voter fatigue. When voters become overwhelmed, they are more likely to vote for familiar names or even leave a race unmarked. By choosing to straight party vote, this issue is relieved. Additionally, this can make lines at voting locations shorter, encourage voters to go to the polls, and avoid the risk of making a mistake on a ballot. This said, we are in a time where voters are likely to only vote for one party regardless. 

Critics of straight-party voting worry that this will lead to a less informed electorate, and a lack of participation in non-partisan races, such as Mayoral races or judicial retention elections. The primary issue, though, lies in the fact that should a voter choose to show up to their polling location uninformed, they are still able to cast a ballot based on one of two political parties. This can also further polarize in the sense that if a voter tends to lean moderate Republican or Democrat and opts to vote for a straight party, they could accidentally vote for one extreme candidate in that party without even knowing it. Since the early 2000s, many states have overturned straight-party voting in local legislatures, while only the seven aforementioned states still allow it, it proves the narrative surrounding polarization we are so familiar with. 

Next time you cast a ballot, consider the options. In this day and age, it is easy to become frustrated with politics, but being able to make critical decisions in this fashion, and apply them to the level of voting can be revolutionary. Here are some quick and easy steps that will allow you to feel empowered when voting:

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There are a variety of ways to be an informed voter, perhaps you might take these into consideration next time you cast a ballot:

1. Know which issues lie closest to your heart. In this time of mass polarization, it can become easy to forget what motivates us. Understanding what drives a voter morally, can make choosing a candidate far less difficult.

2. Do the research! We all know how important voting is to upholding our Democracy, but with information overload, our decisions can become clouded. Prior to heading to the polls, know who you are supporting on paper so you can feel confident when participating in our grand political experiment. 

3. Discuss with others. Political echo chambers are, and have been, on the rise. Hearing perspectives that may be different from your own can alter your thoughts more than you may realize. Understanding how the most pressing of political issues affect others can sometimes be more impactful in your decision on a candidate. 

References:

- “Straight-Ticket Voting.” Straight-Ticket Voting | MIT Election Lab, MIT Election Data Lab, 12 Sept. 2022, https://electionlab.mit.edu/research/straight-ticket-voting.

- https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/why-voting-important

This article was prepared by Co-Director of Education & Advocacy Lilly Roberson.