What does straight ticket voting refer to?

Straight ticket voting refers specifically to the practice of selecting all candidates from one political party on a ballot. This means that a voter casts their vote for every available candidate on the ballot who is affiliated with that party, rather than making selections from multiple parties. This method is especially prevalent in systems where voters may prefer to support a party's overall platform and candidates rather than considering each candidate individually based on their individual merits, policies, or local issues.

The significance of straight ticket voting lies in its ability to reflect party loyalty among voters. When individuals choose to vote straight ticket, it simplifies the voting process, as they don’t need to research each candidate individually. This practice can also indicate strong partisan alignment in elections, leading to sweeping victories for one party if large numbers of voters choose that party's candidates across the board.