Chapter 5

Explain why voting is important to a democratic society.

Discuss types of campaign resources, efforts to restrict the power of money in campaigns and the issue of negative campaigning.

Describe the types of public elections held in Texas.

Describe voting trends in Texas during the last two decades and explain the significance.

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Most basic element—the people voting for elected representativesIdeal—candidates debate policy; voters

decide based on that debate“Bad” democracies - candidates debate

trivia, pay attention to special interests.Discussion: Is Texas close to or far from

the democratic ideal of campaigns and elections?

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Civic dutyDespite the fact one vote rarely matters

Voters elect candidates Voting decreases alienation Voting affects public policy Voting helps prevent corruption

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At time of U.S. Constitution, suffrage determined by states

14th and 15th Amendments: to give political rights to former slaves

19th Amendment—women could vote 26th Amendment—lowered age to 18

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Rules established to distinguish qualified voters from ineligible

Former Confederate states enacted laws to limit registration and votingLiteracy tests, etc.24th Amendment outlawed poll tax

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Suffrage “nationalized”Voting Rights Act

Texas’s stringent election laws struck down by Supreme CourtLegislature passed new regulations

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Voter ID laws proposed in several sessionsPassed in 2011

Discussion: how might voter ID bills be intended to weaken the Democratic Party in Texas?

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Initially, voter can register in person or by mail

Registration permanent as long as voter qualified

Voters can register at any time, and vote if registered at least 30 days prior to the election

Be a U.S. citizen and 18 by election day

Resident of state and county for 30 days prior to election

Not be a convicted felon, or if convicted, have finished one’s sentence

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Proportion of adult citizens who vote Texas turnout generally lower than

national averageEven lower for state, local officesDiscussion: why do local offices receive

such low voter turnout?

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Texas is a poor state17%+ in povertypoor and less educated tend not to vote

Minorities tend to vote at lower rates than Anglos Political Culture

Discussion: how does Texas’s political culture contribute to low voter turnout?

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Anglos tend to determine Election resultsPolicy—since Anglos generally more

conservative, policy more conservativeDiscussion: how does this impact the

party realignment theory in Chapter 4?Discussion: how does this impact

education and health policy?16

Student voting turnout generally low Request a registration form from the

Texas Secretary of State’s office http://www.sos.state.tx.us

Polling places generally listed in newspapers before election day

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People—professionals and volunteers

Money Financial share = vote share

U.S. does not have publicly funded campaigns, except at presidential level

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Most from wealthy donors representing a special interestSkews public policy

Many retired politicians favor public fundingDiscussion: should Texas have publicly

funded campaigns?

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1971—Revenue Act (federal) 1972—Federal Election Campaign

Act (federal) 1973—Texas Campaign Reporting

and Disclosure ActNo enforcement provision

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1991 Texas Ethics LawCreated Ethics Commission Still no limits on campaign contributions

Hard vs. Soft $ 1976: Buckley v. Valeo

Made some of its limits, as well as limits on Texas’s 1973 law, unconstitutional

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Cartoonist Ben Sargent points out that there is more than one way to corrupt democratic government. Courtesy of Ben Sargent.

Corrosive effect on democracyElections affected by inaccurate or

irrelevant chargesLimits discussion on public policyDissuades candidates—may choose

not to run to avoid being a targetDisheartens citizens—may choose not

to vote

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Primaries—nominate party candidates for general election2nd Tuesday in March in even-numbered

yearsPolitical parties that received more than

20% of vote in most recent governor’s election must participate

Candidates must win by majority vote

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Blanket Primary Open Primary Closed Primary

In Texas, voters may participate in either primary

Once you have voted, you can only participate in that party’s runoff election and convention

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In non-presidential years, Texas may hold primary in May

Primary elections administered by the parties in cooperation with county officials

Primary expense paid for by filing fees and the state

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Held in Nov. of even-numbered years on the Tuesday after the first Monday

Governors elected in “off year” Responsibility of state

Secretary of State—main election officer

Counties – handle election process 30

Primary winners automatically on ballot

Independent candidates, new parties Must present petitions with signatures

of qualified votersDiscussion: should it be easier to get

on the ballot? Ballot style—determined by counties

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Mayors and city councilsnonpartisan

Special electionsTo fill vacant positionsVotes on constitutional amendments

Absentee or early voting

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Some counties began using eSlate technology in 2002

Elections in 2002 and 2004—glitches and mistakes, as well as charges of vote tampering

Some researchers concerned with fraud potential, No physical ballot produced

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1994 elections—political realignment favoring RepublicansMost significant gains in judiciary

Republicans have won all statewide elections since 1994

Governor’s election in 2002 one of sleaziest on record

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Nationally—“throw the Republican rascals out” election

Texas—did elect Republicans to all statewide officesSome Democratic gains at local level

Negative and misleading campaigning continued

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Nationally—return to power for Democrats

Texas—Republicans continued as majority party Some Democratic increases in

judiciary, state House of Representatives, local level

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Nationally—gains for RepublicansU.S. & Texas House of Representatives

Texas—re-election of Governor Rick Perry, gains in Texas HouseDiscussion: what role did national politics

and policy play in Texas elections? What role did voter turnout play?

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