New Mexico Supreme Court Blocks Straight-Party Voting

image
Published: 13 Sep, 2018
Updated: 17 Oct, 2022
1 min read

SANTA FE, N.M. - The New Mexico Supreme Court has rejected Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver's attempt to implement straight-ticket (aka straight-party or one-party) voting for the November election. In a unanimous decision Wednesday, the court ruled that Toulouse Oliver did not have the authority under state law to take such action.

The court sided with the plaintiffs' argument that the authority to implement straight-ticket voting belonged to the legislature -- which previously repealed the statute that allowed the ballot option's use.

"Did the Legislature intend to delegate its discretionary authority over straight-party voting to the secretary of state? It clearly did not," said Chief Justice Judith Nakamura

The justices also expressed skepticism over the argument that straight-ticket voting was a tool to speed up the voting process, which advocates claimed would encourage higher turnout and participation in down-ballot races.

"It's not as if a party affiliation at this point is being hidden," said Justice Charles Daniels, pointing out that voters could easily see a candidate's party affiliation next to his or her name.

The secretary of state's sudden announcement that she was going to add straight-ticket voting was immediately met with broad criticism. It was reported that several counties even revolted against the decision, as county commissioners called on local clerks to ignore it.

Photo Credit: vepar5 / shutterstock.com

Latest articles

Tyson points at Trump with a marijuana leaf behind him.
Mike Tyson Calls Out Donald Trump to Make Good on Cannabis Rescheduling Promise
Mike Tyson, the former heavyweight boxing champion known as “Iron Mike,” is calling on President Donald Trump to make good on a campaign promise to reclassify cannabis under federal law....
11 Jul, 2025
-
2 min read
Football in grass.
Texas, Football, Bobcats, Pac-12, and a Corrections Officer Who Performed a Miracle
Houston Chronicle and Hearst Newspapers Spotlight Kelly Damphousse, a Former Correctional Officer Who Transformed a University....
10 Jul, 2025
-
4 min read
Lorena Gonzalez with teamsters
Lorena Gonzalez, California’s Top Labor Leader, Blasts ‘Anti-Labor Left’ Over Abundance Movement
Lorena Gonzalez, one of California’s most influential labor leaders, entered the fray this week in a growing Democratic debate over the so-called “abundance” movement. ...
09 Jul, 2025
-
2 min read