On September 1, U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith upheld Rhode Island’s straight-ticket devices.  See this story.  Two cases, each filed by an independent candidate, were before the judge.  They were Lusi v Mollis, and Healy v State.

A straight-ticket device makes it possible for a voter to vote for all the nominees of one particular party, by making a single mark on a ballot.  Independent candidates never have a straight-ticket device of their own.