Voting in the general election: Straight party, split ticket, or mixed Officials say voters can cross party lines

When it comes to voting in the general election, unlike in primary elections, voters can cross party lines on their ballots.

Unlike in the primary election, where you had to choose a party, you are allowed to vote a split ticket in the general election.

The Michigan Secretary of State’s Office describes three different voting options. First is the “straight party ticket” voting. The top of the ballot provides the “partisan section” where a voter can select one of the partisan ticket options, and the vote will apply to all members of the ballot with that party affiliation. If a voter selects Republican, all candidates with that party affiliation receive a vote from that ballot, or the other way around if the voter selects Democrat.

All non-partisan races, along with ballot proposals, are not included in a straight party vote. Voters should select their choices on each ballot proposal or non-partisan races. Non-partisan races, according to Fred Woodhams, a spokesman of the Michigan Secretary of State Office, often consist of judge and school board races.

The second is a “split ticket.” That’s where a voter can select a straight party, then select candidates from other parties for specific positions. For example, a voter can take a straight party vote, but decide in a local or state race to pick outside of the straight party vote for another candidate.

Finally, the final option is to vote “mixed ticket.” A mixed ticket means the voter selects the candidate for each race individually on the ballot.

For more information on voting, visit www.michigan.gov/vote. Voters have until Tuesday, Oct. 11 to make sure they are registered to vote.