PSCI 3200 State Judicial Selection

Partisan Election

judges are listed with their party affiliation on the ballot i.e. south

Non-Partisan Election

judges are not listed with their political affiliation on the ballot i.e. northern tier from michigan to washington

Merit Selection

in response to partisan elections; high retention, low percent of balloting voters who do not participate in a retention election(declining) i.e. west

Bar polls

members are asked to evaluate all elected and appointed judges

Issues with Judicial Elections in General

many elections uncontested(nonpartisan), partisan elections tend to be more competitive for state supreme court seats; rates similar to that of a member of Congress, local trial elections dominated by a single party