[iowamark]

A total of 12 states allow or offer straight-ticket voting (STV). With a few exceptions, the straight-ticket option is available in all elections, including primaries, and applies to all offices on the ticket, including federal, state and local races. The states with STV are:

Alabama

Pennesylvania

Indiana

Rhode Island

Iowa

South Carolina

Kentucky

Texas

Michigan

Utah

Oklahoma

West Virginia

STV has been declining in popularity over the past decade. At least three states did away with it, and a fourth nearly did, during the 1990s. Two more states abolished it in 2006 and 2007, followed by Wisconsin in 2011.

Georgia – abolished STV in 1994. Some Democrats in Georgia advocate reinstating it on the basis of several studies that have shown losses for Democrats, particularly among African American voters, since it was abolished.

Illinois – abolished STV in 1997. It was a highly partisan battle in Illinois, with the Republican legislature and governor abolishing STV on the last day before the new legislature took office in January 1997. The argument eventually wound up in the Illinois Supreme Court, which in 1998 refused to reverse the decision to abolish STV.

Michigan – attempted to abolish STV in 2001 with the passage of SB 173. However, voters repealed the law in the 2002 election after the issue was petitioned on to the statewide ballot.

Missouri – abolished STV in 2006 as part of legislation mandating photo ID to vote.

New Hampshire – abolished STV in 2007.

North Carolina – abolished STV in 2014 as part of 2013 legislation (HB 589).

Rhode Island – abolished STV in 2015 as part of 2014 legislation (HB 8072).

South Dakota – abolished STV in 1996. South Dakota’s action was bipartisan, with substantial majorities of both parties in the legislature approving the elimination of STV.

Wisconsin – abolished STV in 2011, effective for November 2012 elections. STV will remain available for UOCAVA voters.

New Mexico – secretary of state decided not to offer a straight-ticket option in beginning with the November 2012 election. While it has historically been offered by tradition, it is not required by the state statutes or constitution.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Expect those results to be part of another bid in the 2015 Legislature to eliminate straight-ticket voting, the practice that allows voters to fill one oval on the ballot for all of the candidates in one political party. State Rep. Peter Cownie, R-West Des Moines, said this week he has filed another attempt to pass the straight-ticket ban in the upcoming session.

The peasants are too stupid to understand what they are doing, you see?

[ObamahatesPACoal]

They should get rid of it because it probably helps Democrats who dont won’t know what to do.

[iowamark]

More links and data at the source.

In 2014, it appears that STV slightly favored the GOP. In recent Presidential elections, there is no question that it favored the Dems.

[GeronL]

Iowa thinks the answer is to give voters less choice when voting

[niteowl77]

Some of the fatuous - and occasionally drunken - boasting I've endured at election time convince me that a lot of really crappy down-ticket results are due to straight-ticket voting and nothing else. It takes little time to fill in all the races and get a straight ticket if you actually want to do it.

OTOH, it does make it fast and easy for the Democrat "helpers" that go to nursing homes and fill out the ballots for residents with dementia.

Mr. niteowl77