Judge blocks RI voting challenge

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - A federal judge in Rhode Island has blocked an attempt to halt straight party voting.

U.S. District Judge William Smith rejected a bid yesterday to declare unconstitutional the straight party option, which allows voters to select candidates from the same party by making a single mark on the ballot.

Independent candidate for lieutenant governor Robert Healey had called straight party voting unconstitutional and argued that it confused voters.

He wanted the option removed from the election ballot.

But after hearing hours of testimony, the judge ruled that Healey had failed to present a case and rejected his challenge.