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Proposed Bill Would Outlaw Straight-Party Ticket Voting In Texas
KTXS ^ | 13 Dec 2010 | unattributed

Posted on 12/14/2010 11:19:20 AM PST by smokingfrog

A Republican legislator from San Antonio has proposed a bill that would outlaw straight party ticket voting in Texas.

State Sen. Jeff Wentworth says straight-ticket voting is a detriment to the system.

The Dallas Morning News reports, for its Monday editions, that Wentworth calls the straight-ticket method "lazy."

Texas Republican Party spokesman Chris Elam says the GOP is in favor of giving voters an option, not taking options from voters.

Texas Democratic Party spokeswoman Kirsten Gray says it's critical to preserve the straight party options. She says that over the past decade, more and more Texans have chosen to vote the straight ticket.

(Excerpt) Read more at ktxs.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: straightticket; voting; wentworth
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1 posted on 12/14/2010 11:19:28 AM PST by smokingfrog
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To: smokingfrog

The Texas GOP is so RINO like FL and some of AZ that supports SCUM like MCCain. NV is another s*** state.


2 posted on 12/14/2010 11:21:10 AM PST by Frantzie
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To: smokingfrog

This could lead to an overwhelming majority of Dem dog catchers!!!....


3 posted on 12/14/2010 11:22:49 AM PST by G Larry (When you're right, avoid compromise!)
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To: smokingfrog

I never pull the straight-party lever. Even if I end up voting a straight party ticket, I want to consider each individual before I cast my vote. It takes a little longer but I feel a little more confident about my votes that way. If I don’t particularly like a specific Republican, I don’t throw that lever. Now, I’ve never actually voted for a Democrat either ... usually, the vote for that office is not cast.


4 posted on 12/14/2010 11:22:57 AM PST by BlueLancer (I'm getting a fine tootsy-frootsying right here...)
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To: smokingfrog

Sounds like a great idea. This is why people like Perry keep getting elected in my view.


5 posted on 12/14/2010 11:22:57 AM PST by TheZMan (Just secede and get it over with. No love lost on either side. Cya.)
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To: smokingfrog

Why not just have the ballots filled out for us then? *rolleyes*


6 posted on 12/14/2010 11:23:35 AM PST by MissTed ( Do women in burqas have fun tagging each other in Facebook photos?)
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To: smokingfrog
Texas Republican Party spokesman Chris Elam says the GOP is in favor of giving voters an option, not taking options from voters.

so, in reading this, is Elam for it or aginst it ? (I'm behind a firewall)
7 posted on 12/14/2010 11:23:57 AM PST by stylin19a
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To: Frantzie

Texas has some strong conservatives. Don’t judge us all based on the likes of Kay Bailey, John Cornyn, Rick Perry, etc.


8 posted on 12/14/2010 11:24:47 AM PST by smokingfrog (But what do I know?)
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To: BlueLancer

I do the same thing. I have voted for a few Democrats, only in local elections though. As a rule, even though they are Democrat, they are conservative, so it doesn’t hurt so much. But to vote for a “D” in state or federal,,,,, no way.


9 posted on 12/14/2010 11:26:15 AM PST by southernindymom
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To: stylin19a

Wentworth (R) proposed it; Elam (R) is against it. Sounds like he is saying the GOP position is against.


10 posted on 12/14/2010 11:27:01 AM PST by VRWCmember
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To: stylin19a

Elam wants to keep things as they are (vote straight party or by individual candidates).


11 posted on 12/14/2010 11:28:35 AM PST by smokingfrog (But what do I know?)
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To: smokingfrog

When NYS still had the old voting machines with individual levers, the dumbocraps could always vote with a yard stick. They could place on the communist row (er democrat row) and just pull the yardstick down. It takes too much intelligence for a NY dem or sad to say, a NY RINO, to vote for individuals.


12 posted on 12/14/2010 11:29:40 AM PST by Wurlitzer (Welcome to the new USSA (United Socialist States of Amerika))
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To: BlueLancer; smokingfrog

I don’t care if the straight-party button is “lazy” I still want that as an option. I usually vote straight party GOP, even though I still look at every single race on the ballot. A new law to ban the straight party ballot option is completely unnecessary and counter to conservative principles.


13 posted on 12/14/2010 11:31:17 AM PST by VRWCmember
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To: smokingfrog
Texas Democratic Party spokeswoman Kirsten Gray says it's critical to preserve the straight party options. She says that over the past decade, more and more Texans have chosen to vote the straight ticket.

Over the past decade, Texas has gone to electronic ballot boxes that make it awkward to select 98 candidates from a list.

That said, there are still numerous "NON-Partisan" (meaning no associated party restriction on the seat) which may have 4 Democrats, and 2 Independents, and 1 Republican in the race. Voting straight party won't get your mayoral vote clocked.

14 posted on 12/14/2010 11:31:34 AM PST by a fool in paradise (The establishment clause isn't just against my OWN government establishing state religion in America)
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To: stylin19a

Full article here if you can bypass the firewall.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/politics/state/stories/DN-straightticket_13met.ART.State.Edition2.436136c.html


15 posted on 12/14/2010 11:33:22 AM PST by smokingfrog (But what do I know?)
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To: smokingfrog

I would be in favor of removing party affiliation from ballots altogether.

People always say “I never vote party I vote the person”. Prove it. Remove part affiliation from ballots and let people vote “the person”. Would be interesting to see the results of an election like that.


16 posted on 12/14/2010 11:34:35 AM PST by Anitius Severinus Boethius
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To: TheZMan; smokingfrog

This idea should only be applied to countys and towns which do vote a streight democrat ballot.


17 posted on 12/14/2010 11:36:26 AM PST by mosesdapoet ("To punish a province Let it be ruled by a professor " Frederick The Great paraphrased)
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To: TheZMan
Sounds like a great idea. This is why people like Perry keep getting elected in my view.

He has to make it through the primary.

And the Rats who are getting the Democrat nomination for governor are even worse.

Unless you are suggesting that people just leave that office blank.

18 posted on 12/14/2010 11:36:35 AM PST by a fool in paradise (The establishment clause isn't just against my OWN government establishing state religion in America)
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To: smokingfrog

This is aimed at corrupt judges who are unknown because of straight party voting. We’ve got judges who are “lifers” and guilty of misdemeanors and worse as they are never held accountable by election. Moving their arse out by impeachment is about the only option, is rare and expensive.

“D”, a magazine out of Dallas was where I very recently read a column on this problem. Maybe it was a set up article purposed by Texas democrats, but the point had merit and the examples were clear.


19 posted on 12/14/2010 11:40:24 AM PST by RitaOK
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To: smokingfrog

I really don’t see anything wrong with allowing someone the option of straight party ticket voting. Can someone enlighten me?


20 posted on 12/14/2010 11:44:47 AM PST by MEGoody (Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.)
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