Political Participation

Voting Voter Qualifications –A U.S. citizen –A resident of a Texas county thirty days before the election –Eighteen years of age or older County Tax Assessor County Election Administrator

Voting Thirteenth Amendment Grandfather Clause Smith v. Allwright (1944) Fourteenth Amendment Guinn v. U.S. (1915) Nineteenth Amendment(1920) Fifteenth Amendment Poll Tax (1902) Harper v. Virginia Board of Elections (1966) Literacy TestsWhite PrimaryVoting Rights Act of 1965, 1970, 1975, 1982

Election Administration Secretary of State County Elections Administrator Ballot Length –Short ballot –Long ballot Ballot Construction –Office-block –Party-column –Split-ticket voting –Straight-ticket voting

Figure 3.1 – Sample General Election Ballot

Election Administration Voter Participation –Low voter turnout Reasons for Low Voter Turnout Socioeconomic Model Social-psychological Model –Voter Registration Laws –No voter mobilization Voter Reform –Absentee voting

Table 3.1 – Percentage of Voter Turnout in Presidential Elections

Table 3.2 – Percentage of Voter Turnout in Nonpresidential General Elections

Types of Elections Nominations –History of Nominations –Nominating Caucus –Conventions –Primary Elections Indirect primary Direct primary

Figure 3.2 – Sample Primary Ballot

Types of Elections Primary Elections –Indirect primary –Direct primary Participation –Crossover voting Restrictions –Closed primary –Open primary Presidential Primaries –Direct primary –Front-loading General Elections Special Elections City and Special District Elections