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The straight ticket voting checkbox on the Michigan ballot would be history, under a bill that was fast-tracked through the Senate Tuesday.
State Senate Republican Marty Knollenberg, the bill sponsor, says getting rid of the straight party checkbox would allow voters to fully engage in selecting leaders by voting for an individual based on their merits rather than party affiliations.
Knollenberg says voters can still vote a straight party ticket, they just won’t have the checkbox.
The legislation also includes a $1 million appropriation for implementing the change.
But Senate Democrat Curtis Hertel says the reason for the appropriation is to make it referendum proof because the Republican-led chamber thinks the move won’t be popular in the state.
Bill opponents also say eliminating the checkbox will slow the voting process and result in longer wait times at the polls.
The measure now goes to the House.
