are straight ticket voters dangerous?

P

Port

Joined Feb 2013
2,561 Posts | 171+
portland maine
In a political and cultural environment of heightened partisanship there has been an increased in people identified as independents and a voting pattern showing that between 40 -55% of voters vote a straight ticket. In 17 states there is a straight ticket option on the ballot. Wisconsin legislators have attempted to eliminate this option.
In Texas, at a 10 year high, 58% of voters chose a straight ticket. Many who vote this way base their vote from their choice for the top of the ticket. Another consequence reported is it is a factor for people deciding not to vote for any candidate. Does it influence election outcomes and does it effect our representative democracy?
 
J

jackydee

Joined Jan 2013
4,569 Posts | 16+
Brigadoon
Port said:
In a political and cultural environment of heightened partisanship there has been an increased in people identified as independents and a voting pattern showing that between 40 -55% of voters vote a straight ticket. In 17 states there is a straight ticket option on the ballot. Wisconsin legislators have attempted to eliminate this option.
In Texas, at a 10 year high, 58% of voters chose a straight ticket. Many who vote this way base their vote from their choice for the top of the ticket. Another consequence reported is it is a factor for people deciding not to vote for any candidate. Does it influence election outcomes and does it effect our representative democracy?
Click to expand...

It probably affects State election races more than National ones. If straight down the line voters exist in roughly equal numbers for both parties then they cancel each other out. This equality will exist nationally, but will occur less often locally. It also gives undue influence to each party's beauracratic machine.
 
M

Mike McClure

Joined Nov 2010
6,237 Posts | 20+
Indiana
I have been an Independent all my life, but with the polarization in American politics I am beginning to think that voting a straight ticket is the only way anything is going to get done.
 
R

RoryOMore

Joined Mar 2012
3,470 Posts | 72+
USA
Formal parties aren't covered by the Constitution, so I'm not even completely comfortable with the party designation being listed on the ballot, let alone letting people vote straight party.
 
BoilerL1

BoilerL1

Joined Apr 2013
1,050 Posts | 11+
Wheaton Illinois
I know what my interests are and one party supports them and the other is dead set against them, thus I vote a straight ticket. I'd be a damned fool to vote for a member of a party dedicated to the destruction of my well being.
 
RusEvo

RusEvo

Joined Dec 2011
1,392 Posts | 0+
Does this actually change someones choices (whether you have the option or not)?

It makes sense that many vote the party not the person, as the party has the real power to change things.
 
USMC

USMC

Joined Aug 2012
597 Posts | 3+
Indiana
Further proof of an increased sense of "polarization" within the American society anyways...that is as far as an increase in straight ticket voting. To me, anyone that only votes straight ticket, is doing so out of anger or a lack of trying to figure out who is really best. That task seems impossible in American politics anymore, because there are so many liars running for public office...they just love that gravy train.
 
J

jackydee

Joined Jan 2013
4,569 Posts | 16+
Brigadoon
RusEvo said:
Does this actually change someones choices (whether you have the option or not)?

It makes sense that many vote the party not the person, as the party has the real power to change things.
Click to expand...

Im fairly certain that having the straight line option does increase the likelihood of voting such a way, even if such an option only increases the straight line vote by a few percentage points.
 
diddyriddick

diddyriddick

Joined May 2009
14,691 Posts | 61+
A tiny hamlet in the Carolina Sandhills
Naomasa298 said:
Pardon my ignorance.

What's a straight ticket voter?
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American voters can vote one of two ways-office by office down the roll selecting Democrats, Republicans, etc-or "straight party ticket" All Republicans or All Democrats for every office for which they are qualified to vote-One vote selects all.
 
Naomasa298
United-Kingdom

Naomasa298

Joined Apr 2010
50,502 Posts | 11,794+
Awesome
diddyriddick said:
American voters can vote one of two ways-office by office down the roll selecting Democrats, Republicans, etc-or "straight party ticket" All Republicans or All Democrats for every office for which they are qualified to vote.
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Ah I see, thanks diddy.
 
J

jackydee

Joined Jan 2013
4,569 Posts | 16+
Brigadoon
Last edited:
Naomasa298 said:
Pardon my ignorance.

What's a straight ticket voter?
Click to expand...

Voters in US elections who vote for party candidates for all political offices. These people would be your partizan political types - rather than voting for the best man for the position. They will vote "straight down the line" Dem or Repub in Presidential elections, elections for the local dog catcher, and every office in between.

* Think back to your hanging chads :persevere:


edit: too late, beaten to it.
 
Beaver pelt

Beaver pelt

Joined Aug 2013
623 Posts | 0+
Québec city
As long as the voter is informed of who they are voting for and they firmly believe that those candidates will be best for their country, straight-voting is not a bad thing, as it merely means one party's candidates fulfill their criteria.

When people vote solely due to being in their party and nothing else, and don't know a thing about the candidates otherwise, it is a problem. This is true in pretty much every democracy, but especially so in ones with more than two parties, because things aren't black and white at all in that case.
 
Patton

Patton

Joined Mar 2010
1,329 Posts | 6+
Ohio
The so-called democratic process should be based on which candidate fits an individuals values, principals, and morals as human being, not which letter the person has after their name. Voting for a straight ticket, regardless of the persons character, is extremely dangerous. When it comes to this point, and I believe it has to most Americans, you might as well give the candidates pads and helmets and turn it into something as trival and nonconsequental to our well-being as a game of football. It's exactly this blind fanaticism towards the colors red/blue which are tearing this nation apart. Wipe away the manufactured partisanship and you will see, the two major parties are both working towards the same goal, creating a totalitarian state.
 
Vladd
England

Vladd

Joined Feb 2011
5,566 Posts | 11+
England
Here in the UK when it comes to local elections most people vote by party treating the vote as a form of indication on Westminster rather than a vote on local issues. To be honest in our General elections most people just vote for the party rather than the politician. To save money a candidate needn't spend time and money printing leaflets putting forward their beliefs, just let the electorate know what colour rosette they wear.
 
Crystal Rainbow

Crystal Rainbow

Joined Feb 2011
9,998 Posts | 3+
Cumbernauld Scotland
I think there are some really bad politicians out there, and they are the ones that weld the most power no matter what party they belong to. My MP is not that corrupt yet, he was against the gagging law and against the bedroom tax.
 
Chancellor

Chancellor

Joined Feb 2011
882 Posts | 0+
The far North
Port said:
In a political and cultural environment of heightened partisanship there has been an increased in people identified as independents and a voting pattern showing that between 40 -55% of voters vote a straight ticket. In 17 states there is a straight ticket option on the ballot. Wisconsin legislators have attempted to eliminate this option.
In Texas, at a 10 year high, 58% of voters chose a straight ticket. Many who vote this way base their vote from their choice for the top of the ticket. Another consequence reported is it is a factor for people deciding not to vote for any candidate. Does it influence election outcomes and does it effect our representative democracy?
Click to expand...

Badly. I always try (having only four offices up for election; city councillor, county councillor, MP, MEP) to think hard before I do it, but if you sincerely believe they are the best candidates, go for it. Voting on expediency for a banner and ignoring, or even rejecting who are carrying it is irresponsible edging on despicable. :notrust:
 
funakison

funakison

Joined Oct 2012
5,380 Posts | 28+
Between a rock and a hard place
BoilerL1 said:
I know what my interests are and one party supports them and the other is dead set against them, thus I vote a straight ticket. I'd be a damned fool to vote for a member of a party dedicated to the destruction of my well being.
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Fair point, but what if the candidate for the party you support is a total fruitloop with policies so extreme he/she is off the radar so to speak. Do you still support that candidate.
 
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