The battle surrounding straight ticket voting has taken a new turn. Attorney General Bill Scheutte filed an emergency motion today asking a federal appeals court to reinstate a ban on the practice in time for
In July, a federal judge blocked the Michigan law that banned the practice of allowing voters to use a single mark on the ballot to vote for a political party’s entire slate of candidates. The judge said it violated voting rights of urban African-Americans who are most likely to use the option, and would likely lead to longer lines on Election Day.
The attorney general’s appeal says the law only addresses how people vote – not their right to vote. And the state has a right to decide if people should have to vote for candidates, and not a political party.
If the statute is upheld, Michigan would join 40 other states that have eliminated straight ticket voting.
