Michigan straight-party voting ban won’t take effect

Forty other states prohibit straight-party voting.

The option is popular in Michigan cities with large black populations. It has been on the books for 125 years and has been a common choice in some counties that are steadfastly loyal to Republicans, too.

Snyder and majority GOP lawmakers enacted the straight-party voting ban in January, saying the option was rare nationally and getting rid of it would lead to a better-informed electorate.

Democrats accused the GOP of seeking partisan gain, particularly in down-ballot races for the state Board of Education and university boards. Some, alluding to the belief that candidates at the top of the ballot influence lower-level elections, also said Republicans were trying to inoculate themselves if presidential candidate Donald Trump is beaten badly by Hillary Clinton.

The lawsuit challenging the law was filed by attorney Mark Brewer, former head of the state Democratic Party, on behalf of three people and a union-affiliated group.

The case is not over.

The three-judge 6th Circuit panel that declined to intervene immediately will next fully consider the state’s appeal of U.S. District Judge Gershwin Drain’s injunction, the outcome of which will affect future elections. Separately, Drain will schedule a trial on whether he should permanently stop the law from taking effect.

Michigan Democratic Party Chairman Brandon Dillon, who accused Schuette of wasting state money on the “Hail Mary” appeal, said while the straight-ticket option is intact for November, “there’s no doubt in my mind that this fight is not over.”

Schuette, a Republican, said he would respect the high court’s decision, but that it is his “duty to defend Michigan’s laws, in this case a law that stands in 40 other states.”

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Follow David Eggert on Twitter at http://twitter.com/DavidEggert00 . His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/author/david-eggert

David Eggert, The Associated Press

by Canadian Press

Michigan straight-party voting ban won’t take effect

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