Voting and Political Participation in Texas Chapter 7 Voting and Political Participation in Texas

Analyze the state and local election process Upon completing this chapter, you will be able to… Analyze the state and local election process

Taking Personal Responsibility… CORE OBJECTIVE Taking Personal Responsibility… What activities do you engage in that are related to governance? Which forms of political participation do you think are the most effective?

Political Participation Political participation takes many forms Contacting elected officials Voting Donating time or money to a campaign Testifying on legislation or commenting on rules Levels and types of activities Inactives Voting specialists Parochial participants Communalists Complete activists Key term: political participation

Voter Turnout in Texas Proportion of people who cast ballots Registration United States Election Project Voter turnout in Texas Texas Voter ID Key terms: voter turnout registered voters voter registration same-day voter registration voting-age population voting-eligible population

Percent of Eligible Voters Turning out in 2012 Presidential Election

CORE OBJECTIVE Thinking Critically… How do you think the Texas voter ID law would impact voter turnout in Texas? Where do you stand on the issue? Explain why you favor or oppose voter ID laws.

Explaining Voter Turnout Legal Restrictions Today Elections Code, Title 2, Chapter 11 Am I registered? The Legacy of Restricted Ballot Access in Texas The Controversial Nature of Voter ID Key terms: poll tax annual registration permanent registration white primary

Explaining Voter Turnout Social and Economic Factors Age Ethnicity Sex Education Income Religion Region Key term: socioeconomic factors

Explaining Voter Turnout Felony Conviction and Voting Overall decline in Party Identification Party Competition (non-marginal/non-competitive districts created through gerrymandering) Declining white population ** Other Factors Affecting Voter Turnout Level of Election (national/state/local) Early voting span/election day Rationalist Explanations for Low Voter Turnout AKA----”My husband’s philosophy” on voting

Other Forms of Political Participation Forms of participation Donating money Donating time Civic skills

Okay….so HOW do I vote? First----ya gotta register. Do your research Is it a local, state or national election for office holders? Is it a primary or a general election? Is it a constitutional referendum or local bond election? Get information from interest groups or voter’s guides to inform yourself Decide to early vote or wait until election day but find your precinct! Make a ‘cheat sheet’ for yourself SHOW UP (with the proper ID and do it! Watch the returns (Local State National)