Senators approved a bill Tuesday that repeals straight party voting, a ballot provision that allows a voter to vote for all candidates from one party instead of considering individual races. Both Democratic and Republican Senators stood to speak on behalf of Senate Bill 249, some saying the elimination of straight ticket voting requires voters to consider each race rather than voting on a partisan basis. “I think it’s fair to say we have benefited from this over the past couple election cycles,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch Carmicahel said, referring to the Republican Party’s take over of the legislature, “but that’s not a reason to continue a process.”
“It should be what is the right thing to do, regardless of partisan politics and regardless of who benefits from a particular method of voting.”
“I think it’s a silly bill,” Democratic Sen. Mike Romano said on the Senate floor.
“I think we don’t give voters enough credit. What we need to do is find ways to encourage people to come back to vote not find ways to discourage them from voting.”
Full Article: W.Va. Senate Repeals Straight Ticket Voting | West Virginia Public Broadcasting.