Election Q&A: If I vote the straight-ticket section of my ballot, can I also vote in individual races?
This story is part of a Lansing State Journal Q&A series about the upcoming election. Have a question about voting, polling or results? Ask it in the form at the bottom of this story. We'll get you the answer.
Q: I'm confused by the straight-ticket section of my ballot. Do I have to choose a party? If I choose a party, can I also vote in individual races? If so, do I have to stick to that party?
Voting the straight-ticket portion of your ballot is optional, Delta Township Clerk Mary Clark said.
If you decide to vote the straight-party option and for candidates individual races, that's fine too.
Your choice for an individual race trumps your party choice in the straight ticket section if you vote for a candidate from a different party than the party you chose at the top.
"Let's say they want to vote the Green Party [as a straight-ticket choice]," Clark said. "We know that every Green Party candidate will get that vote. They could, in any given race, pick the Libertarian instead, and that will supersede the straight ticket."
Filling in a straight-ticket vote doesn't mean your ballot is complete, Secretary of State spokesperson Tracy Wimmer said. There are lots of nonpartisan choices on the ballot, like races for Michigan Supreme Court and ballot proposals, and those aren't covered by straight-ticket votes.
The rules for general elections, like the one coming up on Nov. 3, are different than those for primary elections.
In primary elections, candidates are running against people within their own parties to determine which candidate will move on to the general election and run against candidates from other parties. That's why primary voters have to stick to a certain party.
In the general election, voters can choose people from different parties for different races. They could choose a Republican for County Commission, a Democrat for the state House, a Green Party candidate for prosecutor and a Libertarian for president.
Check out more of our Q&A series:
Q:Do I have to wear a mask at the polls?
Q:I asked for an absentee ballot but changed my mind. What now?
Q:With this surge in absentee voting, when will we get results of statewide races?
Q:I returned my absentee ballot. How can I make sure it actually reached my clerk?
Submit your questions to the Lansing State Journal's Election Q&A series. We'll post questions and answers online at LSJ.com.