Split-ticket voting

"Split ticket" redirects here; not to be confused with Split Ticket (website).
"Ticket splitting" redirects here; not to be confused with Split ticketing.

Split-ticket voting or ticket splitting is when a voter in an election votes for candidates from different political parties when multiple offices are being decided by a single election, as opposed to straight-ticket voting, where a voter chooses candidates from the same political party for every office up for election. Split-ticket voting can occur in certain mixed-member systems which allow for it, such as mixed-member proportional and parallel voting systems.

Consequently, in closed list electoral systems, which are used most notably in Argentina, Israel, South Africa, and Spain, voters are structurally unable to participate in split-ticket voting. These systems require individuals to vote for a party list, rather than for specific candidates in varying offices.

The behavior is often a result of candidate and voter dynamics; when individuals are evaluating elections based on each candidate's personal appeal, perceived performance, or connection to local issues, they are more likely to bypass partisan electoral norms. It has also been attributed to voters making a conscious choice to balance power in governmental branches between political parties.

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