split ticket

noun

, U.S. Politics.

1. a ballot on which not all votes have been cast for candidates of the same party.
2. a ticket on which not all the candidates nominated by a party are members of the party.

split ticket

noun

1. See split See also straight ticket

split ticket

1. A vote for candidates of different political parties on the same ballot, instead of for candidates of only one party. In the presidential elections, for example, a voter may choose a Republican candidate for president, but a Democratic candidate for senator. Split-ticket voting is not allowed in primaries ( see closed primary , direct primary , open primary ). The increasing occurrence of split-ticket voting reflects support of individual candidates rather than unswerving party loyalty.

Word History and Origins

Origin of split ticket¹

An Americanism dating back to 1830–40

Idioms and Phrases

A ballot cast for candidates of more than one party, as in I'm registered as an Independent, and indeed I usually vote a split ticket . This idiom uses ticket in the sense of “a list of nominees for office,” a usage dating from the late 1700s. Also see straight ticket .

Example Sentences

Split-ticket voting in general elections, the hallmark of so-called independents, is relatively rare.

From The Daily Beast

But in our increasingly polarized political atmosphere, split-ticket voting is on the decline.

From The Daily Beast