party-column ballot

politics

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July 1, 2026

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A party-column ballot, also known as an Indiana ballot, is a type of ballot used in elections where candidates are listed in columns according to their party affiliation. The party name and sometimes its emblem are placed at the top of each column. This format allows voters to cast a "straight ticket" by marking a single spot to vote for all candidates of a chosen party, though voting for individual candidates is also typically an option. This contrasts with an office-bloc ballot, where candidates are grouped by the office they are seeking rather than by party. The party-column format can influence election outcomes by making it easier for voters to support a single party's entire slate.123

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election
Balloting
On party-column ballots, it is possible to vote a “straight ticket” for all of a party’s candidates by entering a single mark, though voting for individual candidates is usually possible. Conversely, on the office-bloc ballot, voters choose individual candidates grouped by office rather than party, which…
Read More
On party-column ballots, it is possible to vote a “straight ticket” for all of a party’s candidates by entering a single mark, though voting for individual candidates is usually possible. Conversely, on the office-bloc ballot, voters choose individual candidates grouped by office rather than party, which…
Read More