DETROIT — A federal judge ruled against Michigan’s elimination of straight-party voting, arguing that the bill signed by Gov. Snyder in January hinders voting rights, especially for African Americans.

The Republican-controlled Legislature passed the measure, which would bar voters from choosing all the candidates of a political party by checking its box on the top of the ballot. People would have to vote for each race individually.

The Michigan State A. Philip Randolph Institute, an organization for African American trade unionists, challenged the law in court. U.S. District Court Judge Gershwin A. Drain
blocked it.

Drain issued four preliminary injunctions on Thursday, citing a report by Kurt Metzger, a regional information specialist with the U.S. Census Bureau in Detroit, who found a direct correlation between the use of straight-party voting and the number of African Americans in a community.

“Generally, as the African American population increases in a county, so does the use of straight-party voting,” Drain wrote.

The five cities with straight-party voting rates greater than 75 percent are all majority African American, according to Metzger’s report.

Proponents of straight-party voting say eliminating it increases the time individual voters spend at the polls, which causes longer lines and makes voting more difficult.

Opponents say banning straight tickets encourages the electorate to look at each candidate’s stand on the issues.

However, politics may have played a role in the state Republicans’ push to ban straight-party voting. Although the GOP has comfortable majorities in the State House and Senate and occupies both the governor’s mansion and attorney general’s office, Michigan has voted for Democratic presidential candidates since 1992.

With Donald Trump on top of the ticket, state Republicans risk losing local races if the electorate, who favor Hillary Clinton, opt for voting straight party.

Drain said the court has jurisdiction over the matter because the states are authorized to organize elections, but that authorization does not allow states to violate the Constitutional rights of citizens.

He found that the law “presents a disproportionate burden on African Americans’ right to vote.”

Democrats welcomed Drain’s decision.

“It’s a shame that Michigan’s Republican-led legislature enacted these burdensome restrictions that were found to adversely affect African Americans’ ability to vote,” U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee (D- Flint) said in a statement. “Every person, regardless of their race, gender or creed, should have equal access to voting and I call on the state of Michigan to uphold this decision and protect the rights of Michigan voters.”

The ruling will not affect the Aug. 2 primary, where straight-party voting is not available.

The state can appeal Drain’s decision.

The Michigan Association of Municipal Clerks was quick to urge the state to accept the ruling.

“An appeal prior to the November election would leave too much uncertainty for our hardworking clerks and elections workers and undoubtedly cause confusion with voters that could affect the integrity of this important election,” said Sarah Bydalek, the association president.