Court Halts Order Over Straight Ticket Voting In Texas

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) – A federal appeals court has stayed a ruling that Texas must offer straight-ticket voting for November’s election. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday ordered a temporary stay of last week’s lower-court order as Texas officials fight the ruling, which would allow voters to choose one party’s entire slate of candidates at a stroke. Texas begins early voting Oct. 13, and the Texas Secretary of State’s office argued that making a change now would create a “logistical nightmare.”