Legal Definitions - party-column ballot

A party-column ballot is a type of ballot design where all candidates belonging to a particular political party are grouped together, typically in a single vertical column or a horizontal row. This arrangement allows voters to easily identify and select candidates from a specific party for multiple offices, and in some systems, facilitates "straight-ticket" voting where a single mark can cast a vote for all candidates of one party.

Here are some examples to illustrate the concept:

• Imagine a voter in a general election for state offices. The ballot is designed with a distinct column labeled "Democratic Party," under which are listed the names of their candidates for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, and State Senator. Adjacent to it is another column labeled "Republican Party," listing their candidates for the same offices. This layout is a party-column ballot because it organizes all candidates by their political affiliation, making it straightforward for a voter to see and select all candidates from their preferred party.

• Consider a municipal election where several local parties are competing. The ballot might feature a column dedicated to the "Neighborhood Alliance Party," listing their candidates for Mayor, City Council, and School Board. Next to it, another column displays the "Community Forward Party's" candidates for the identical positions. This structure exemplifies a party-column ballot, as it groups all candidates by their respective local party affiliations, helping voters to quickly identify and choose a slate of candidates from a single party.

• During a national election year, a voter's ballot could present a column for the "Libertarian Party," featuring their presidential and vice-presidential nominees, followed by their candidates for U.S. Senator and U.S. Representative. This arrangement clearly demonstrates a party-column ballot, as it consolidates all candidates from the Libertarian Party across various federal offices into one easily navigable section, allowing a voter to consistently support that party's slate.