straight ticket voting

Definition

Voting for every candidate from a single party on a ballot, often by checking one box. It's democracy's version of brand loyalty, requiring zero research about individual candidates.

Example Usage

Straight ticket voting surged in polarized elections, with 90% of voters choosing all Democrats or all Republicans.

Origin

American electoral terminology from the party-column ballot design of the 19th century.

Fun Fact

Several states have eliminated straight ticket voting options to force voters to make individual choices, though partisan sorting means most people effectively vote straight ticket anyway.

Source: Electoral systems terminology

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