Since the late 1960s, New Mexico voters have been able to vote a straight-party ticket -- picking all Democrats or all Republicans -- in general elections. However, the straight-party option isn't listed anywhere in the state election code, and some Democrats fear the option will disappear by the November general election.

What apparently stirred those fears is that the secretary of state, Dianna Duran, is a Republican -- the first Republican in that office since 1930. Duran says straight-ticket voting isn't authorized -- and, she argues, isn't permitted -- under current law.

The Senate on Thursday voted 26-12 in favor of a bill that would make the straight-ticket ballot option part of state law. The vote on Senate Bill 218 was along party lines, with all Democrats for it and all Republicans against it.

Even if the bill makes it through the House, however, there probably is trouble ahead for the legislation. Gov. Susana Martinez, a Republican, doesn't support the proposal, a spokesman said Wednesday.

Lonna Atkinson, a political science professor at The University of New Mexico, said straight-ticket voting helps Democrats in New Mexico, mainly because of the Democratic Party's voter-registration advantage.

"It really makes it easier to vote," she said.

Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez, D-Belen, who sponsored the bill, told a reporter after the vote that straight-ticket voting helps people with disabilities. "It's not always easy for them to vote for every single office on a ballot," he said.

Sanchez also said having a straight-party option makes voting quicker, thus cutting down on long lines at the polls, which often is a problem in presidential election years. "We're consolidating precincts," he said. "There's going to be confusion and long lines."

Daniel Ivey-Soto, a lobbyist for the state's county clerks association, said his organization hasn't taken a position on the bill. However, he said some clerks in big counties have expressed concerns about long lines in November.

Sen. Mark Boitano, R-Albuquerque, who voted against the bill, said, "It makes sense to me to engage voters as much as possible. Voters should be educated as much as possible about the candidates and issues." The straight-party option, he said, "takes away an incentive to be as educated and informed as possible."

Asked for comment on the bill, Ken Ortiz, the secretary of state's chief of staff, said in an email, "Straight party voting, as an option on the ballot, is not authorized or permitted under current law. ... If the Legislature reinstates straight-party voting and that provision becomes law, then the secretary of state will follow the law, as she does in all areas of the election code."

A fiscal impact report on the bill, prepared by the Legislative Finance Committee, cites National Conference of State Legislatures statistics that indicate only 16 states, including New Mexico, offer straight-ticket voting. The trend is for states to move away from straight-party voting, the report says.

Since the mid-'90s, six states have abolished straight-ticket voting, the report says.

Contact Steve Terrell at 986-3037 or sterrell@sfnewmexican.com. Read his political blog at roundhouseroundup.com.