Gov. Snyder OKs End Of Straight-Party Voting Option In Michigan

LANSING (WWJ/AP) - Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder has signed a law eliminating the straight-party voting option from ballots.

Michigan was among 10 states to still let voters support an entire ticket of one party's candidates with a single mark. Now they can only vote race by race.

The Republican governor says Tuesday "it's time to choose people over politics."

WWJ Lansing Bureau Chief Tim Skubick says Democrats have accused the GOP of seeking partisan gain by doing away with a convenient option.

"The popular wisdom is that more Democrats vote a straight ticket; and, so, if you eliminate that option perhaps Republicans will win more races," Skubick said. "That's the theory from the opposition."

"But the proponents of the legislation say they think that voters, rather than just going in and checking one box, ought to know who all the people are on the ballot, and vote intelligently — quote, unquote."

The law includes $5 million for additional voting booths and tabulators after clerks raised concerns that removing the option will cause longer lines. The allocation also makes the measure immune from a referendum. Voters twice before have preserved the straight-ticket option in referendums.

Snyder says the Legislature should pass legislation allowing voters to vote absentee for any reason.

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