Opinion of straight-ticket voting

[Indy Texas]

Some states give voters the option of casting straight tickets. Rather than make a selection individually for each office, they can simply select "Republican" or "Democratic" at the top and have their votes cast for every candidate running on that party line.

Horrible Voting Option or Freedom Voting Option?

[H. Ross Peron]

Leads to even more ignorant voters at the polls. Also ensures that no Democrat is ever elected in a Red state and vice versa.

[TNF]

Of course you should be allowed to vote straight ticket if you so choose.

[TJ in Oregon]

Horrible practice that encourages voters to not even bother reading the ballot. Voting straight ticket is fine, but the voter should have to actually vote for each individual candidate that way rather than just selecting the easy way out at the top. Until my old roommate from Pennsylvania told me about it, I never know such a thing even existed.

[Goldwater]

Horrible Voting Option. I don't have a problem with voting a straight ticket, but you should at least read the damn ballot first.

[politicallefty]

I would absolutely support such an option. If the voter does not want to vote straight-ticket, he or she does not have to choose that option. However, it should be available for this who wish to do so. If anything, it could ease lines at the polls (as I believe a large majority of the electorate already votes straight-ticket anyway).

[DC Al Fine]

Of course you should be allowed to vote straight ticket if you so choose.

It's not that hard to go down the list and tick the boxes marked "Democrat".

[Lambsbread]

Should be allowed, but it's lazy and allows for people to not take voting seriously.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Of course you should be allowed to vote straight ticket if you so choose.

It's not that hard to go down the list and tick the boxes marked "Democrat".

Indeed.

Besides, it's also an issue of practicality.  One state has this option, but it doesn't include the vote for the party's presidential candidate, so using this option constantly resulted in people not voting at all in some important races - especially ones that are nonpartisan or don't have candidates running from the respective party.

[nolesfan2011]

Horrible practice that encourages voters to not even bother reading the ballot. Voting straight ticket is fine, but the voter should have to actually vote for each individual candidate that way rather than just selecting the easy way out at the top. Until my old roommate from Pennsylvania told me about it, I never know such a thing even existed.

I agree, bad policy.

[The Free North]

You should be able to vote however you want.

Dont restrict peoples voting abilities, if they want to be morons, let them be morons

[Supersonic]

I don't see a problem with it. If you want to vote for one parties slate, then you should have the choice.

[Oak Hills]

Horrible device. People should be have to check off the candidates for each individual office.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Horrible device. People should be have to check off the candidates for each individual office.

This. I find nothing wrong with voting straight Democratic or Republican, but it should be done office by office.

[Oldiesfreak1854]

Leads to even more ignorant voters at the polls. Also ensures that no Democrat is ever elected in a Red state and vice versa.

Not true.  There are plenty of Republicans that have been elected to Dem-leaning states in recent years (George Pataki, Jim Douglas, Scott Brown, Mark Kirk, Chris Christie, Robert Ehrlich, etc.) and Democrats in GOP-leaning states (like Jim Folsom, Phil Bredesen, Joe Manchin, Janet Napolitano, Katleen Sebelius, Ben Nelson, Mike Beebe, Mark Pryor, and Brad Henry.)  While states may lean one way in presidential elections, there are very few solidly "red" or "blue" states at the state level. 
As for the actual question, I don't see why a person shouldn't be allowed to vote a straight party ticket.  Having the right to vote means being allowed to vote, even when you're an ignorant or ill-informed voter.  Personally, however, I would rather mark my ballot for each individual office, even if I end up voting for all of a single party's candidates.  Plus, there may be some races where that party (most likely Republicans in my case) don't have a candidate, in which case I will vote based on the other party's candidates on the ballot.

You should be able to vote however you want.

Dont restrict peoples voting abilities, if they want to be morons, let them be morons

Couldn't have said it better myself.

[Maxwell]

Horrible Voting Option. I don't have a problem with voting a straight ticket, but you should at least read the damn ballot first.

[TDAS04]

I do not agree with rigidly voting straight-ticket.  The individual candidate should matter.  However, it should be allowed.  Since the parties are increasingly polarized ideologically, many people may prefer all of the candidates of their party.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Very much approve.

Seriously, unless you're a super duper moderate hero, in 95% of cases it makes absolutely no sense to split your vote between different parties.

[RogueBeaver]

Very much approve.

Seriously, unless you're a super duper moderate hero, in 95% of cases it makes absolutely no sense to split your vote between different parties.

[Maxwell]

Voting should be based on individuals, and it's just a continuing sign that the two party system is dominating our politics that ballots do that, as it continues the elimination of third party choices. People should vote how they want, yes, but straight ticket voting cuts out the middle man and tells us that those are our only options.

[Indy Texas]

Very much approve.

Seriously, unless you're a super duper moderate hero, in 95% of cases it makes absolutely no sense to split your vote between different parties.

I'm not sure I've ever voted a straight ticket in my life. But I guess I am something of a moderate hero so...

[Del Tachi]

Horrible practice.

Where are we at in society where laziness and apathy are rewarded by simplifying an already incredibly simple process?

If people want to vote straight-ticket (which I have no problem with) then we should at least make them actually vote straight-ticket.

[Donerail]

Oppose. Horrible practice. Read the damn ballot before you cast your party-line vote, ignorant party hack.

[Lambsbread]

Dont restrict peoples voting abilities, if they want to be morons, let them be morons

So in other words, let them vote Libertarian.