(KCPW News) Utah is one of just 13 states that allow voters to cast a straight ticket ballot, meaning a voter can choose a single party’s entire list of candidates by marking just one box on the ballot. Utah Democratic Party Chairman Jim Dabakis says the system takes the effort out of voting and creates an unfair political process.
“Democratic legislators have several times run bills that would prohibit having on the ballot straight party tickets, however, it has never made it out of committee, the Republicans see it as a big advantage to them and despite the fact that it’s undemocratic, it’s wrong, they don’t care,” says Dabakis.
Republican Party Chairman Thomas Wright says before worrying about how people are voting, he wants to focus on getting more people out to vote.
“I think first thing is we have one of the lowest voter turnouts in the country and I think the last I saw we were 47th. So, I think it is a higher priority to focus it easier for people to vote and get them engaged in the voting process,” says Wright.
Wright says he doesn’t believe it is his place to tell people not to vote straight ticket, but adds he wouldn’t oppose a bill questioning the practice going before the state legislature once again.
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