Final answer:
A party's ticket consists of all the candidates nominated by a political party for various political offices. Straight-ticket voting allows voters to choose all of a party's candidates with a single selection but does not apply to non-partisan positions on the ballot.
Step-by-step explanation:
The definition of a party's ticket refers to the selection of candidates that a political party has nominated for various offices in an election. These candidates, who represent the party, collectively form the ticket which voters can choose in the election. In some instances, voters have the option of straight-ticket voting, which means casting their vote for every candidate that a single party has on the ballot with just one selection.
In certain states, like Texas and Michigan, enabling a single box at the top of the ballot commits all votes to the party's candidates for the partisan positions on the ballot. However, this method does not apply to non-partisan seats such as judicial or some local offices, requiring voters to individually select candidates for these positions. The choice of straight-ticket voting can thus influence the outcome of elections and has been subject to political strategies, as seen in Illinois' 1998 election where the Democratic Party benefited significantly from a campaign promoting straight-ticket voting.