1. Chapter 4 Voting and Elections

2. LEARNING OBJECTIVES LO 4.1Explain why voter turnout is low in Texas. LO 4.2Describe the types of Texas elections. LO 4.3Understand how elections are administered in Texas. LO 4.4Identify the factors that advantage (or disadvantage) candidates in Texas elections. LO 4.5Apply what you have learned about voting and elections in Texas. Copyright © 2016 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 2

3. POLITICAL PARTICIPATION According to the authors elections are the defining characteristic of representative democracies. The Participation Paradox and Why People Vote Copyright © 2016 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 3

4. SUFFRAGE The expansion of the right to vote has been one of the most important historical develop­ments in Ameri­can politics. 4

5. SUFFRAGE At time of U.S. Constitution, suffrage determined by states restrictions on suffrage were widespread generally limited to adult white male property owners who professed a certain religious belief about five percent of the almost 4 million people counted in the national census in 1790 were eligible to vote. 5

6. SUFFRAGE Since the beginning of the 19th century, restric­tions on voting have been gradually removed. Church membership and property ownership removed as quali­fi­ca­­tions for voting in the 1820s and 1830s. 15th Amendment (1970): Right to vote no longer denied on basis of race, color, or previous condition of servitude 6

7. SUFFRAGE 19 th Amendment (1920): women could vote 26 th Amendment (1971): lowered voting age to 18 Voting Rights Act 7

8. SUFFRAGE Several things stand out in the history of the evolu­tion of voting. voting rights have been substantially na­ tionalized states, when enacting voting laws, must now stay within guidelines established by the U.S. Constitu­tion, Congress, and the Supreme Court. 8

9. SUFFRAGE Southern states, including Texas, attempted to evade and obstruct the post-Civil War amendments and, later, the Voting Rights Act, resulting in lower voting turnouts in the South than in the North. The federal government gradually defeated these antidemocratic schemes so that by the mid 1970s all adult Ameri­cans had the legal right to vote. 9

10. REGISTRATION Rules established to distinguish qualified voters from ineligible Former Confederate states enacted laws to limit registration and voting Literacy tests, etc. 24 th Amendment outlawed poll tax used by Texas and other states 10

11. REGISTRATION In Smith v. Allwright the Supreme Court banned white primaries In the case Carrington v. Rash, the courts decided that members of the military could enjoy the full rights of suffrage in Texas. Literacy tests were not used in Texas. 11

12. REGISTRATION 2 restrictions on registering to vote in Texas were eliminated by the case of Beare v. Smith Not required to register by January 31 Annual registration abolished Property ownership no longer a requirement for voting in bond elections 12

13. REGISTRATION Practice of drawing names of prospective jurors from list of registered voters has been discontinued Today counties use driver’s licenses as the basis for summoning prospective jurors 13

14. VOTING RIGHTS ACT ENACTED IN 1965 SUBSTANTIALLY WEAKENED BY 2014 SUPREME COURT DECISION 14

15. WHY VOTE? Voting provides gov’t legitimacy Voting decreases alienation Voting affects public policy Voting helps prevent corruption Although one vote almost never matters, democracy depends upon each citizen acting as if it does 15

16. POLITICAL PARTICIPATION Who Votes? Demographic variables that affect turnout Education Income Age Political factors Copyright © 2016 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 16

17. POLITICAL PARTICIPATION Who Votes? The more education an individual has, the more likely the individual is to vote. A person who has a strong interest in politics is more likely to vote. Identification with either major political party makes a person more likely to vote. The younger an individual is, the more likely that individual is not to vote. Copyright © 2016 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 17

18. POLITICAL PARTICIPATION The Practice of Voting Legal qualifications for voting in Texas Voter Turnout in the United States and in Texas Voter turnout Voting-age population (VAP) Copyright © 2016 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 18

19. REGISTRATION In 1971, the Texas legislature passed a new law making registration much easier. Voters may register in person or by mail. Registration remains in effect as long as the voter remains qualified with a new registration card issued every two years on January 1 in even-numbered years. 19

20. REGISTRATION Voters may register at any time and vote in any election, provided they are registered 30 days before the election. A person can register when renewing a driver’s license. Registered spouses, parents, or offspring can register an individual. 20

21. REGISTRATION To vote in Texas, one must be all of the follow­ing: A U.S. citizen at least 18 years of age by election day. A resident of the state and county for the 30 days immediately preceding election day. 21

22. REGISTRATION A resident of the election precinct on election day. Registered to vote at least 30 days before election day. Not be a convicted felon or, if convicted, have finished serving one's sentence Disqualified if legally declared mentally incompetent 22

23. REGISTRATION The following are used to are used to purge the names of voters from the voter registration rolls. a. Corner’s reports b. List of felony convictions c. List of adjudications of mental incompetence 23

24. REGISTRATION Making registration and voting in America easier has not resulted in increased voter turnout. In fact voter turnout declined in the 1970s and has not changed greatly since that time. 24

25. HOW MANY PEOPLE VOTE IN THE UNITED STATES? PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION TURNOUT 1932-2012 Copyright © 2016 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 25

26. TURNOUT Turnout in American general elections is significantly lower in comparison to other industrialized democracies of the world 26

27. Copyright © 2016 Cengage Learning VOTER TURNOUT FROM AROUND THE WORLD 27 Copyright © 2016 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

28. TEXAS TURNOUT Voter turnout in Texas significantly below national average since 1970s In the thirty years since the current registration law went into effect, an average of 47.3 percent of eligible Texans turned out for presidential elections and 30.8 percent turned out for off-year congressio­nal elections. 28

29. TEXAS TURNOUT 2012 26.1 million Texas residents Voting age population: 18.3 M Citizen voting age population: 15.6 M Registered voters: 13.6M General election: 8M Republican primary: 1.4 M 29

30. PERCENTAGE OF THE VOTING-AGE POPULATION CASTING BALLOTS IN PRESIDENTIAL GENERAL ELECTIONS, 1972-2012 Copyright © 2016 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 30 Should the government take steps to encourage people to vote? Why or why not?

31. PERCENTAGE OF THE VOTING-AGE POPULATION CASTING BALLOTS IN NONPRESIDENTIAL GENERAL ELECTIONS, 1974-2014A Copyright © 2016 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 31 What factors explain why Texas has such a low voter turnout compared to other states?

32. WHO VOTES? Reasons for Low Voter Turnout in Texas Legal constraints Demographic factors Low income level Low education level Copyright © 2016 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 32

33. WHO VOTES? Reasons for Low Voter Turnout in Texas (cont.) Political structure Large number of elections Long ballot Party competition (lack of) Political culture Voter ID? Copyright © 2016 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 33

34. WHO VOTES? Two possible factors contributing to decreased voter turnout after 1960 26 th Amendment A decrease in party identification by voters 34

35. ANTI-FRAUD? Voter ID law passed in 2011 Arguments put forward by those opposed to the voter ID law include: Voter ID is a solution to a problem that does not exist. There is no real evidence of people impersonating other voters in Texas. Possible big impact on legitimate voters who do not have a driver’s license. 35

36. ANTI-FRAUD? Discussion: how might voter ID bills be intended to weaken the Democratic Party in Texas? 36

37. TYPES OF ELECTIONS IN TEXAS A political party’s ultimate aim is to nominate candidates in a primary or convention and get them elected. Copyright © 2016 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 37

38. TYPES OF ELECTIONS IN TEXAS Primary Elections Direct primary: party members participate directly in the selection of a candidate to represent them in the general election. The Terrell Election Law (1903) established direct primaries in Texas Copyright © 2016 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 38

39. TYPES OF ELECTIONS IN TEXAS Who must hold a primary? Any party receiving 20 percent of the gubernatorial vote Party chair and state executive committee conduct a drawing to determine the order of the names on the ballot certify the ballot to the county-level officials canvass the election returns after the primary Copyright © 2016 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 39

40. TYPES OF ELECTIONS IN TEXAS Primary Elections (cont.) Financing primaries: state treasury Administering primaries The majority rule 50 percent plus one of the votes required to win primary Runoff primary: two top vote-getters from the first primary, where the winner in that primary did not receive a majority Copyright © 2016 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 40

41. FEES FOR LISTING ON THE PARTY PRIMARY BALLOT IN TEXAS, SELECTED OFFICES Copyright © 2016 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 41 How much do filing fees limit candidates’ access to the state ballot? Should election laws attempt to discourage frivolous candidates? How much do filing fees limit candidates’ access to the state ballot? Should election laws attempt to discourage frivolous candidates?

42. TYPES OF ELECTIONS IN TEXAS Primary Elections (Cont’d.) Closed primary: allows only those individuals who are party members to participate. Open primary: voters can choose on Election Day in which primary they will participate. Crossover voting 42 Copyright © 2016 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

43. TYPES OF ELECTIONS IN TEXAS General Elections Won by a plurality vote: candidate with the most votes wins regardless of whether it is a majority. on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of even-numbered years. Special Elections Designed to meet special or emergency needs. Nonpartisan. Copyright © 2016 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 43

44. TYPES OF ELECTIONS IN TEXAS No Term Limits Election for Texas Governor is held in non-presidential election years: 2014, 2018, 2022 Copyright © 2016 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 44

45. THE CONDUCT AND ADMINISTRATION OF ELECTIONS The chief election officer of the state is the Texas Secretary of State County-level Administration Ballot Construction Office-block ballot Party-column ballot Split-ticket voting Straight-ticket voting: Selecting all of the candidates of one particular party. Copyright © 2016 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 45

46. THE CONDUCT AND ADMINISTRATION OF ELECTIONS Ballot Construction (Cont’d.) The Politics of Ballot Construction Minor political parties in the state prefer the office-block ballot because it makes straight-ticket voting for the major parties more difficult Getting on the Ballot Write-in Candidates Copyright © 2016 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 46

47. THE CONDUCT AND ADMINISTRATION OF ELECTIONS Getting on the Ballot All candidates for any party that received at least 5 percent of the vote for any statewide office in the last election are placed on the ballot automatically. Minor parties may petition to get on Write-in Candidates Copyright © 2016 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 47

48. THE CONDUCT AND ADMINISTRATION OF ELECTIONS Getting on the Ballot Independents must present petitions signed by voters Number of signatures depends on office sought Very difficult Write-in Candidates Copyright © 2016 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 48

49. THE CONDUCT AND ADMINISTRATION OF ELECTIONS Ballot Construction (Cont’d.) The secret ballot and the integrity of elections Australian ballot Multilingualism In more than 100 counties, the ballot is printed in both English and Spanish Also Vietnamese in Harris County (Houston) Copyright © 2016 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 49

50. THE CONDUCT AND ADMINISTRATION OF ELECTIONS Early Voting Chads Electronic Voting A number of Texas counties introduced electronic voting in the 2002 midterm election because of the possibility of similar problems that occurred in Florida during the 2000 election. Copyright © 2016 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 50

51. THE CONDUCT AND ADMINISTRATION OF ELECTIONS Counting and Recounting Ballots a candidate can request a recount if he or she loses by less than 10 percent. the candidate who requests a recount is required to pay for the recount. a manual recount must be used. canvassing authorities are given a lot of discretion when interpreting an indentation on the chad. Copyright © 2016 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 51

52. ELECTION CAMPAIGNS IN TEXAS: STRATEGIES, RESOURCES, AND RESULTS The General Election Campaign Mobilizing groups Democrats: African Americans, Latinos, teachers Republicans: Business interests, social conservatives Copyright © 2016 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 52

53. ELECTION CAMPAIGNS IN TEXAS: STRATEGIES, RESOURCES, AND RESULTS The General Election Campaign Choosing issues The campaign trail Candidates spend most of their “on the stump” time in urban and suburban areas in the state. Negative campaigning Timing Copyright © 2016 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 53

54. ELECTION CAMPAIGNS IN TEXAS: STRATEGIES, RESOURCES, AND RESULTS Money in Election Campaigns Political Action Committees (PACs): Organizations that raise and then contribute money to political candidates. Super PACs: Organizations spend to promote a candidate without working or communicating directly with the candidate’s campaign organization. Copyright © 2016 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 54

55. ELECTION CAMPAIGNS IN TEXAS: STRATEGIES, RESOURCES, AND RESULTS Money in Election Campaigns Where does the money go? Control over money in campaigns Soft money: Money spent by political parties on behalf of political candidates, especially for the purposes of increasing voter registration and turnout Independent expenditures Copyright © 2016 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 55

56. ELECTION CAMPAIGNS IN TEXAS: STRATEGIES, RESOURCES, AND RESULTS Money in Election Campaigns Texas campaign finance law includes No limitations on the amount a candidate is allowed to spend Disclosure of who makes contributions Report of how much a candidate raises Disclosure of how campaign funds are spent Copyright © 2016 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 56

57. PROFILES OF TEXAS CAMPAIGN MEGA-DONORS Copyright © 2016 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 57

58. ELECTION CAMPAIGNS IN TEXAS: STRATEGIES, RESOURCES, AND RESULTS Who Gets Elected Elected offices in Texas can be viewed as a pyramid. Successful candidates have typically been white Protestant males. Women and minorities have made substantial gains in statewide offices. Copyright © 2016 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 58

59. ELECTION CAMPAIGNS IN TEXAS: STRATEGIES, RESOURCES, AND RESULTS Who Gets Elected Two predominate factors Party identification Incumbency Copyright © 2016 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 59

60. ELECTION CAMPAIGNS IN TEXAS: STRATEGIES, RESOURCES, AND RESULTS Who Gets Elected May some day be significantly impacted by the growth in Hispanic population in Texas Hispanics have yet to wield a significant impact on state politics due to low voter turnout Copyright © 2016 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 60