TexasTexas Government Government 23062306

Unit 3Unit 3

Unit 3Unit 3

1789 VOTING 1789 VOTING REQUIREMENTSREQUIREMENTS

(set by the states)(set by the states) WhiteWhite   MaleMale   Property OwnerProperty Owner   Religious Requirements (in 7-8 Religious Requirements (in 7-8

states)states)  • Percent eligible to vote: 5%Percent eligible to vote: 5%

VOTING REQUIREMENTSVOTING REQUIREMENTS TODAYTODAY

•   • 1.1.                  U.S. CITIZENU.S. CITIZEN

• 2.2.                  AGE—18AGE—18  • 3.3.                  RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTRESIDENCY REQUIREMENT•       30 days in Texas30 days in Texas

• 4.4.                  MUST BE REGISTEREDMUST BE REGISTERED

Disenfranchised by Disenfranchised by State LawState Law

Texas Voter TurnoutTexas Voter TurnoutHow Texas RanksHow Texas Ranks

• Percentage of Percentage of Eligible Voters Eligible Voters

that are that are Registered to VoteRegistered to Vote

• Texas is 41stTexas is 41st

• Percentage of Percentage of Eligible Voters Eligible Voters that Votethat Vote

• Texas is 44thTexas is 44th

General Elections Average General Elections Average Turnout-1980-92Turnout-1980-92

Turnout in State General Turnout in State General Elections-1990Elections-1990

Turnout –Presidential Turnout –Presidential ElectionsElections – –1960-20041960-2004

(Percentage of Voting-Age Population Voting)(Percentage of Voting-Age Population Voting)

Voter Turnout-1962-2002 Voter Turnout-1962-2002 Nonpresidential ElectionsNonpresidential Elections

Reasons for Low Voting Reasons for Low Voting Turnout in TexasTurnout in Texas

Traditionalistic Political CultureTraditionalistic Political Culture

   History of Being a One-Party StateHistory of Being a One-Party State   Socio-Economic FactorsSocio-Economic Factors

– oo IncomeIncome– oo EducationEducation– oo Percent of Minority PopulationPercent of Minority Population

   Bible-Belt InfluenceBible-Belt Influence

Past Voting BarriersPast Voting Barriers

Voting Barriers in Voting Barriers in TexasTexas

• Poll Tax Poll Tax (1902-1966)(1902-1966)

• White Primary White Primary (1923-1944)(1923-1944)

• Restrictions on Military Restrictions on Military (until 1965)(until 1965)

• Long Residency Requirement-State: Long Residency Requirement-State: 1 1 year & County: 6 monthsyear & County: 6 months (until 1970-2)(until 1970-2)

• Property Ownership-Property Ownership-Local & Bond Local & Bond Elections Elections (until 1969)(until 1969)

• Annual Registration Annual Registration (until 1971)(until 1971)

• Early Registration-Jan. 31 Early Registration-Jan. 31 (until 1971)(until 1971)

NOMINATION PROCESSNOMINATION PROCESS

• PARTY CAUCUSPARTY CAUCUS– Used from 1789-1830sUsed from 1789-1830s– Party leaders chose party candidatesParty leaders chose party candidates

  • PARTY CONVENTIONPARTY CONVENTION

– Used from 1830s-1900Used from 1830s-1900– Party delegates at party convention nominated party Party delegates at party convention nominated party

candidatescandidates  

• PARTY PRIMARYPARTY PRIMARY– States began using in earlyStates began using in early 1900s1900s– Voters chose party candidatesVoters chose party candidates

•   

TYPES OF PRIMARIESTYPES OF PRIMARIES11 • CLOSEDCLOSED

Declare party affiliation when registerDeclare party affiliation when register– Voters must vote in that party’s primaryVoters must vote in that party’s primary

  OPENOPEN

– Allows voter to vote in either party primary without a party Allows voter to vote in either party primary without a party declarationdeclaration

  • BLANKET/MIXEDBLANKET/MIXED

– Lists all candidates of all parties on one ballotLists all candidates of all parties on one ballot– Voters allowed to vote for only one candidate per position, but Voters allowed to vote for only one candidate per position, but

may switch parties between officesmay switch parties between offices

  •   

TYPES OF PRIMARIESTYPES OF PRIMARIES22

• TEXAS TYPETEXAS TYPE- Voters declare party affiliation on day of - Voters declare party affiliation on day of

party primary, not beforeparty primary, not before– Voters must then vote in that party’s Voters must then vote in that party’s

primaryprimary• Is a type of closed primary Is a type of closed primary BUT BUT operates operates

more like an open primarymore like an open primary

BALLOT TYPESBALLOT TYPES

• ORAL BALLOTORAL BALLOT– Voter gave candidate choices to election official orallyVoter gave candidate choices to election official orally

  • PARTY BALLOTPARTY BALLOT

– Ballots printed by each party listing only their party’s candidatesBallots printed by each party listing only their party’s candidates– Ballots differed in length & sometimes paper colorBallots differed in length & sometimes paper color

  • AUSTRALIAN (SECRET) BALLOTAUSTRALIAN (SECRET) BALLOT

– Ballots printed by the governmentBallots printed by the government– Candidates of major parties listed on ballotCandidates of major parties listed on ballot

•         

TWO BALLOT TYPESTWO BALLOT TYPES

–

• PARTY COLUMNPARTY COLUMNCandidates listed in columns by Candidates listed in columns by party affiliationparty affiliation

• OFFICE COLUMNOFFICE COLUMNCandidates listed/grouped by Candidates listed/grouped by

office/position running foroffice/position running for

Party Column BallotParty Column Ballot

Office Column BallotOffice Column Ballot

TYPES OF VOTINGTYPES OF VOTING Paper BallotsPaper Ballots

• oo Tabulation ErrorsTabulation Errors

Punch Card BallotsPunch Card Ballots• oo Hanging ChadsHanging Chads

  

Voting MachinesVoting Machines• oo Machines “Rigged” & MalfunctionsMachines “Rigged” & Malfunctions

Touch Screen VotingTouch Screen Voting• oo Malfunctions & Lack of Paper TrailMalfunctions & Lack of Paper Trail

  

On-Line VotingOn-Line Voting• oo Hackers, Lack of Access by PoorHackers, Lack of Access by Poor, , No paper trailNo paper trail

How the US Voted in How the US Voted in 20042004

How the US Will Vote -How the US Will Vote -20082008

EARLY VOTINGEARLY VOTING

   Begins 17 days before the electionBegins 17 days before the election

   Ends at end of 4Ends at end of 4thth day before day before

electionelection

Early Voting TimelineEarly Voting Timeline•   

• 60 days before Election Day60 days before Election Day--first day to submit an first day to submit an early voting by mail application; early voting by mail application;

• 17 days before Election Day17 days before Election Day (12 days for (12 days for May election)-May election)-early voting in person begins;early voting in person begins;

• 7 days before Election Day7 days before Election Day--last day to submit an last day to submit an

application for ballot by mail;application for ballot by mail;

• 4 days before Election Day4 days before Election Day--early voting in person early voting in person ends; ends;

Election Day-Election Day-marked early ballots by mail must be marked early ballots by mail must be returned by 7 p.m.,returned by 7 p.m., unless mailed from outside the United States. unless mailed from outside the United States.

•     

EARLY VOTING BY MAILEARLY VOTING BY MAIL  

• You may vote early by mail if you are: You may vote early by mail if you are: • Going to be away from your county on Election Day and during early Going to be away from your county on Election Day and during early

voting; voting; • Sick or disabled; Sick or disabled; • 65 years of age or older on Election Day; or 65 years of age or older on Election Day; or • Confined in jail, but eligible to vote. Confined in jail, but eligible to vote.

    • Applications for a ballot by mail Applications for a ballot by mail

• must be submitted to the early voting clerk on or after the 60th day must be submitted to the early voting clerk on or after the 60th day before Election Day and before the close of business on the 7th day before Election Day and before the close of business on the 7th day before Election Day. If the 7th day is a weekend, the last day to submit before Election Day. If the 7th day is a weekend, the last day to submit an application is the preceding Friday.an application is the preceding Friday.

EARLY VOTING BY MAILEARLY VOTING BY MAIL22

• If you are voting early by mail, you must If you are voting early by mail, you must send your application by:  send your application by:  

• Regular mail; Regular mail; • Common or contract carrier; or Common or contract carrier; or • FAX (if a FAX machine is available to the early voting FAX (if a FAX machine is available to the early voting

clerk and if you areclerk and if you are submitting your application from submitting your application from outside the county)outside the county)

• ExceptionException: : • If you are voting early because of expected absence, If you are voting early because of expected absence,

you may apply in person for a ballot by mail before you may apply in person for a ballot by mail before the first day of early voting in person. the first day of early voting in person.

EARLY VOTING BY MAILEARLY VOTING BY MAIL33

• You may obtain a formal application You may obtain a formal application • from the early voting clerk in your county or from the from the early voting clerk in your county or from the

Secretary of State's webSecretary of State's web site at site at www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/voter/earlyvoting.shtml or or toll-free at 1-800-252-VOTE (8683). You do not have to toll-free at 1-800-252-VOTE (8683). You do not have to use a formal application; however, use a formal application; however, an informal an informal application must be in writing and includeapplication must be in writing and include::

– 1.1.      your signature (or a witness' signature if you cannot your signature (or a witness' signature if you cannot sign); sign);

– 2.2.      your name and the address at which you are your name and the address at which you are registered to vote; registered to vote;

– 3.3.      the address to which the ballot is to be mailed; the address to which the ballot is to be mailed;

EARLY VOTING BY MAILEARLY VOTING BY MAIL44

• The election date and for which election you are requesting The election date and for which election you are requesting a ballot (for a primary election, you must state the political a ballot (for a primary election, you must state the political party's primary in which you wish to vote); and, party's primary in which you wish to vote); and,

• A reason why you are eligible to vote early by mail (to be A reason why you are eligible to vote early by mail (to be eligible to vote early due to expected absence from the eligible to vote early due to expected absence from the county, your application must state an address out-of-county, your application must state an address out-of-county to have your ballot mailed).county to have your ballot mailed).

• The early voting clerk must receive your marked ballot by The early voting clerk must receive your marked ballot by 7 p.m. on Election Day7 p.m. on Election Day..

• Exception: Exception: – If you are mailing your ballot from outside the United States, the early If you are mailing your ballot from outside the United States, the early

voting clerk must receive your voting clerk must receive your – ballot by the fifth day after Election Day. (You must mail it no later ballot by the fifth day after Election Day. (You must mail it no later

than 7 p.m. on Election Day.)than 7 p.m. on Election Day.)

CURBSIDE VOTINGCURBSIDE VOTING

        Don't even have to get out of the car. Don't even have to get out of the car.               Call ahead to notify the early voting clerk Call ahead to notify the early voting clerk

that you want to vote from your car. that you want to vote from your car.             Is available to any voter who has difficulty Is available to any voter who has difficulty

walking or standing for long periods. walking or standing for long periods.             Election official will bring your ballot to Election official will bring your ballot to

your car your car             Curbside voting is available during early Curbside voting is available during early

voting & on Election Day voting & on Election Day            State and Federal law requires all early State and Federal law requires all early and Election Day polling locations to be and Election Day polling locations to be physically accessible to voters with physically accessible to voters with disabilitiesdisabilities

Federal Post Card Federal Post Card ApplicationApplication

The The Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) (FPCA)

      is a form provided by federal lawis a form provided by federal law

    to permit members of the U.S. armed forces to permit members of the U.S. armed forces and merchant marines, their dependents, and and merchant marines, their dependents, and U.S. citizens abroad to vote early by mail and,U.S. citizens abroad to vote early by mail and,

   if necessary, to temporarily register to vote.if necessary, to temporarily register to vote.

Federal Post Card Federal Post Card ApplicationApplication22

The The Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) (FPCA)

• Who is eligible?Who is eligible?

• You are eligible to vote early with an FPCA if you are You are eligible to vote early with an FPCA if you are qualified to vote in Texas and you are: qualified to vote in Texas and you are:

• a member of the U.S. armed forces or the spouse or a a member of the U.S. armed forces or the spouse or a dependent of a member; dependent of a member;

  • a member of the U.S. merchant marines or the spouse or a a member of the U.S. merchant marines or the spouse or a

dependent of a member; or dependent of a member; or   • a U.S. citizen domiciled in Texas but temporarily living a U.S. citizen domiciled in Texas but temporarily living

outside the territorial limits of the United States.outside the territorial limits of the United States.

CAMPAIGN FINANCE CAMPAIGN FINANCE REGULATION IN TEXASREGULATION IN TEXAS

Candidates must file reports with Tx. State Ethics Comm.Candidates must file reports with Tx. State Ethics Comm.

           Names of all donors $50+Names of all donors $50+           Candidates & PACs-no cash contributions of $100 or Candidates & PACs-no cash contributions of $100 or

moremore           No direct contributions from corporations or unionsNo direct contributions from corporations or unions           Sworn statements of contributions & expenditures files Sworn statements of contributions & expenditures files

with Texas Secretary of Statewith Texas Secretary of State   Texas Ethics Commission=enforcer Texas Ethics Commission=enforcer with criminal & civil with criminal & civil

penaltiespenalties

BALLOT ACCESSBALLOT ACCESS (FOR (FOR

INDEPENDENT & 3INDEPENDENT & 3RDRD PARTY CANDIDATES) PARTY CANDIDATES)

• Candidates must file a petition with a specified number Candidates must file a petition with a specified number of signatures of registered voters. of signatures of registered voters.

– a.a. Statewide candidatesStatewide candidates:: 1% of the vote for governor; 1% of the vote for governor; – b.b.        Multi-county candidates:Multi-county candidates: to 3% of the vote for to 3% of the vote for

governor; governor; – c.c. County or local candidates:County or local candidates: 5% of the vote for governor 5% of the vote for governor

  • Candidates must gather signatures of registered Candidates must gather signatures of registered

voters voters not voting in the primary elections of other not voting in the primary elections of other partiesparties in that election year in that election year

  • Parties whose candidate for governor received Parties whose candidate for governor received

between 1 percent of the total votes cast in the last between 1 percent of the total votes cast in the last general electiongeneral election are exempt from the petition requirement are exempt from the petition requirement

To Be Listed on BallotTo Be Listed on Ballot

The Texas Election Code provides three ways for names to appear on the ballotThe Texas Election Code provides three ways for names to appear on the ballot .:.: • A candidate desiring to run as an independent or third party candidate must file a A candidate desiring to run as an independent or third party candidate must file a

petition with a specified number of signatures of registered voters. petition with a specified number of signatures of registered voters. The number varies, The number varies, depending on whether it is a state, multi-county, or county position. depending on whether it is a state, multi-county, or county position.

• Statewide candidates must gather signatures of registered voters equal to 1% of the vote Statewide candidates must gather signatures of registered voters equal to 1% of the vote for governor; multi-county candidates must gather signatures of registered voters equal for governor; multi-county candidates must gather signatures of registered voters equal to 3% of the vote for governor; county or local candidates must gather signatures of to 3% of the vote for governor; county or local candidates must gather signatures of registered voters equal to 5% of the vote for governor. Only registered voters not voting registered voters equal to 5% of the vote for governor. Only registered voters not voting in the primary elections of other parties in that election year can sign the petition, in the primary elections of other parties in that election year can sign the petition, a a requirement that eliminates many politically active citizensrequirement that eliminates many politically active citizens . .

• Write-in candidates must file as a write-in candidate and register with the Secretary of Write-in candidates must file as a write-in candidate and register with the Secretary of State prior to the election for their votes to be counted. Their names must be posted at State prior to the election for their votes to be counted. Their names must be posted at the election sitethe election site. Failure to register means a write-in candidate can win the largest number of . Failure to register means a write-in candidate can win the largest number of votes and cannot win! Parties whose candidate for governor received between 1 and 19 votes and cannot win! Parties whose candidate for governor received between 1 and 19 percent of the total votes cast in the last general election are exempt from the petition percent of the total votes cast in the last general election are exempt from the petition requirement and must nominate their candidates in a party caucus or convention. Parties requirement and must nominate their candidates in a party caucus or convention. Parties receiving 20 percent or more of the total votes cast for governor in the last election must receiving 20 percent or more of the total votes cast for governor in the last election must nominate their candidates in primary elections.nominate their candidates in primary elections.