House Passes Bills Disallowing Party Names, Logos On Ballots

LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Names and logos of political parties no longer would be allowed on election ballots under two bills approved by Michigan's state House.

The legislation passed Thursday in Lansing and now heads to the GOP-controlled state Senate.

Opponents of the current bills say party logos are necessary to help some voters identify the political parties of candidates appearing on election ballots.

The two bills are sponsored by Republican Reps. Hank Vaupel of Fowlerville and Edward Canfield of Sebewaing.

The bills were introduced last session to address a Senate bill that would have eliminated straight-ticket voting in Michigan. The Senate bill was signed into law in 2015 by Gov. Rick Snyder but later blocked by a federal district judge ahead of the 2016 November election.

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