Read the whole ballot - Vote Split or Mixed Ticket

With all the state, county and local proposals, this is going to be one, long ballot.

It's important to go down the ballot.  It's important to vote in the "nonpartisan" races.  It's important to vote on the proposals.  It's also important to make sure you vote for the candidates you want.  Not every party runs a candidate in every race.  Voting straight-ticket by party may leave out some races.

Before you cast your ballot, you need to know your options.  I don't just mean candidates, parties, races or proposals.  I mean options for filling out your ballot.  Most people know straight-ticket voting, where one mark selects all candidates of one party in the partisan section.  Then, mixed-ticket, not split-ticket, is choosing candidates race by race.

So, what is split-ticket?  It's not the same as mixed-ticket.  Under Michigan law, (Michigan Compiled Law, Chapter 168, Section 736c), a split ticket is actually voting a straight-party selection and some individual partisan selections.  This means you can vote straight Republican for most races but still vote Libertarian on some (think of it as calling an audible, or straight-party-plus).  It also means you can vote straight Democratic and still vote in races where there is no Democrat running.

You have a voice.  Exercise it.