On June 1, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed HB 25, which repeals the straight-ticket device. The legislature passed the bill on May 20.
Straight-ticket ballots list the officially qualified parties at the top, usually just “Democrat” and “Republican.” Voters can check an adjacent box to cast a vote for all of that party’s candidates on their ballot. Thus voters are often unaware of any Libertarian candidates who may be running.
The only states that still have the straight-ticket device are Alabama, Indiana, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Utah. Whether Michigan continues to have the device depends on the federal courts.
Thanks to Richard Winger of Ballot Access News for this news.
