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

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

3. 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?

4. 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

7. 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

9. Percent of Eligible Voters Turning out in 2012 Presidential Election

11. 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.

12. 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

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

17. 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

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

20. 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)