Voting in Texas GOVT 2306, Unit 4

Voting is a Two-Step Process Registration Casting a Ballot 1. Fill out a registration application to register to vote. 2. Vote Voting is a Two-Step Process

Voter Registration Card People who register to vote will receive a voter registration card in the mail. Voter Registration Card

Texas Voter Qualifications Must be 18 years old Must be U.S. citizen Must be resident of the state Must register at least 30 days before an election Note: There is no length-of-residency requirement. Texas Voter Qualifications Some states have same-day voter registration.

Voter Suppression

White Primary & Poll Tax Texas has a history of voter suppression. In the early years of the twentieth century, Texas adopted both a white primary and a poll tax. White Primary & Poll Tax

The white primary was an election system that prohibited African Americans from voting in Democratic primary elections, the only elections that mattered in those days. The U.S. Supreme Court struck it down in 1944 in the case of Smith v. Allwright. White Primary

The poll tax was a tax that prospective voters had to pay in order to register to vote. Its implementation cut voter turnout in half. It was eliminated in the 1960s by a constitutional amendment for federal elections and a federal court ruling for state elections. Poll Tax

Restrictive Registration The Texas legislature and the governor responded to the loss of the poll tax by establishing the most difficult and restrictive system of voter registration in the nation. Prospective voters had to register between October 1 and January 31 each year. The federal courts struck the system down in 1971. Restrictive Registration

Voter ID More voter suppression or a proper safeguard to the threat of voter fraud?

In 2011, the legislature passed a Voter ID law that requires voters to present a valid state or federal photo ID -- such as a driver's license, state ID card, military ID, passport, or concealed-handgun permit, but not a student ID card. According to the state, the names of nearly 800,000 registered voters do not appear on drivers’ license or state ID lists. Texas Voter ID Law

Many Republican activists and elected officials are firmly convinced that voter fraud is a serious problem in Texas, especially in South Texas and minority precincts in the big cities. They believe that Democrats steal elections by bussing unqualified voters to the polls, including, perhaps, illegal aliens. Moreover, they say, showing a photo ID to cast a ballot is not a major inconvenience. After all, people are routinely asked for a photo ID when they pay bills with a check, complete a bank transaction, or board an airplane. Why not require similar identification for something as important as voting? Republicans Favor It

The Democrats believe that the Republicans push voter ID laws in order to suppress Democratic voter turnout. Many low-income people, especially minority citizens who typically vote Democratic, do not have a driver’s license or other forms of picture identification and may lack the means to travel to a state office to apply for a state-issued photo ID card. Furthermore, Democrats contend that there is no credible evidence that voter impersonation is a problem in Texas elections. Democrats Oppose It

Obama carried blue counties. Voter ID Impact

Does the cartoonist favor or oppose voter ID Does the cartoonist favor or oppose voter ID? What is the basis of your answer? Voter ID Cartoon

Does the cartoonist favor or oppose voter ID Does the cartoonist favor or oppose voter ID? What is the basis of your answer? Voter ID Cartoon

Federal Court Blocks Voter ID A federal court blocked enforcement of the Texas voter ID law under the Voting Rights Act (VRA) because, the court ruled, it discriminated against minority voters: An est. 800,000 Texas voters lack photo ID Latinos are substantially more likely than whites to lack ID A third of counties don’t have a DPS office Many Texas citizens would have to drive 150-200 miles to get an ID. People would need to spend $22 for a copy of their birth certificate if they don’t have the original. Federal Court Blocks Voter ID

In 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a key part of the federal Voting Rights Act is unconstitutional, clearing the way for Texas to implement voter ID. Shelby Co. v. Holder (2013)

Texas began requiring voters to show an ID in the low-turnout 2013 election. It was used in the 2014 election as well. Voter ID Now in Effect

Federal Government Sues The U.S. Department of Justice has filed suit against Texas arguing that the state is violating other provisions of the Voting Rights Act than the one the Supreme Court invalidated. Federal Government Sues

Which of the following is NOT a requirement to vote in Texas? You must be a U.S. citizen. You must live in the state for 6 months. You must be at least 18 years of age. You must be registered to vote. The answer is B. Quiz

What We Have Learned What are the qualifications to vote in Texas? What is the history of voter suppression in Texas? Why is the Texas voter ID law controversial? What We Have Learned