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Straight Party Ticket Voting Upheld In Court Decision

DETROIT (WWJ) - Michigan residents will have the option to vote by straight party ticket this election after a court decision Thursday.

The 6th Circuit Court of Appeals denied a request to uphold the ban against the straight party ticket voting, agreeing with a lower court that it is unconstitutional because it disproportionately affects African Americans.

Attorney Mark Brewer represented the plaintiffs in the case.

"We argued that not only did this harm the right to vote of all voters because they are going to be subjected to longer lines - but it will particularly harm African American voters in violation of the voting rights -- and the courts have agreed with us," says Brewer.

"We have one of the longest ballots in the country, we have some of the longest lines in the country, and so that makes the ability to vote straight party all the more important and if it's taken away from the millions of voters, who would otherwise use it, our guys end up standing in line," says Brewer.

Opponents, mostly Republicans, say the practice is a tool of party politics because most who vote "straight party" are Democrats.

No word yet on whether the Attorney General's office will file an appeal with the US Supreme Court.

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