The Texas Tribune, a well-read on-line Texas news source, has this opinion piece by Representative Rob Simmons. It urges that Texas voters contact their state legislators and ask them to support his HB 1288. The bill would eliminate the straight-ticket device.
Dominoes on the straight ticket repeal bills this year! Excellent news. West Virginia’s passed the senate 25-8-1 with half the Democrats signing, is predicted to pass the GOP controlled House with similar party percentages, and the governor would then almost have to sign it. The state senate roll call on it is finally online: http://www.legis.state.wv.us/legisdocs/2015/RS/votes/senate/02-03-0002.pdf
Straight ticket voting needs to be abolished. We will never stop these “uninformed” voters from going to the polls pulling a certain party lever, without even know anything about the candidates nominated by a party.
If we had an informed electorate, I might take a different position. But I know, from personal experience, that party columns can reduce the vote polled by a 3rd party or Independent candidate when party columns or rows are utilized – even when there is no party label. It’s just the way the candidates are listed on the ballot, can effect the outcome.