Texas is one of the few states that still allow voters to cast their ballots entirely based on party affiliation rather than individual candidates. One-punch straight-ticket voting may seem convenient, but the problems it ushers in far outweigh mere expedience.

First, straight-ticket voting assumes that candidates in the same party have the same beliefs, and that those beliefs align with your own on the issues most important to you. Second, it assumes that party affiliation automatically ensures competency — a dangerous hypothesis on either side of the aisle, up and down the ticket. We should be voting for people instead of parties — and not allowing lackluster candidates to hide under their party mantle.

Still, we can't deny that straight-ticket voting is popular. In the last election, roughly two-thirds of Dallas County votes were straight-ticket; 41 percent Democratic and 24 percent Republican. Statewide, according to the Texas Tribune, nearly 64 percent of all ballots cast in Texas' 10 most populous counties were straight-ticket.

Fortunately, a handful of public officials are working to change that.

Last week in his State of the Judiciary address, Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Nathan Hecht argued that partisanship and straight-ticket voting leave "judicial candidates at the mercy of the top of the ticket." He added, "Qualifications did not drive their election; partisan politics did." Worse than that, "when partisan politics is the driving force, and the political climate is as harsh as ours has become, judicial elections make judges more political, and judicial independence is the casualty."

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick agrees. He said in a statement to the Texas Tribune: "I have spoken out on this issue many times and have introduced legislation in previous legislative sessions to end straight-ticket voting so that voters evaluate every candidate based on their principles and priorities."

The problems of straight-ticket voting go beyond the judicial branch, though.

Texas House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, is once again calling for an end to straight-ticket voting across the board. Straus is the only member of the Republican leadership in Texas to call for ending straight-ticket voting across the board, not just in judicial races.

In November, Rep. Ron Simmons, R-Carrollton, filed HB 433 to end straight-ticket voting. He argues that ending straight-ticket voting "prevents [candidates] from hiding behind a party banner that may or may not reflect their personal views or policies."

It's important to note: Eliminating the straight-ticket voting option does not take away the option to vote for all Republicans or all Democrats on your ballot. You'd still be free to do so, just not with the ease of one button.

The more informed the voters, the better our democracy. Getting that information may not always be convenient, but improving our governance is worth the effort.

What you can do

Contact Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick to express support for an end to straight-ticket voting: 512 463-5342 or LTGConstituent.Affairs@ltgov.texas.gov.

Contact your legislator to register your support for HB 433. To find out who represents you and how to contact them, go to www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us/Home.aspx and type in your address.

Email forms are available on each lawmaker's website. Find them at www.house.state.tx.us/members and www.senate.state.tx.us/directory.php.