Those who vote by straight-ticket will no longer have that option in 2020.
Governor Greg Abbott signed a bill today that will eliminate straight-ticket voting in Texas by September of 2020. According to the Texas Tribune, Texas is one of few states that still uses straight-ticket voting in elections. In 2016, straight-ticket voting accounted for 64 percent of the total votes cast in Texas' three largest counties.
Information is not readily available for Potter County, but in Randall County, straight ticket votes made up about 54 percent of ballots cast in 2016. Of those votes, 86 percent were Republican while 13 percent were Democrat.
The bill was met with opposition from Democratic lawmakers who said that the bill will disproportionately impact minority voters. Supporters of the bill said that it would cause voters to cast more informed votes at the ballot box.
Straight-ticket voting will still be available for voters in 2018.
