1. G O T V Get Out The Vote A Workshop on Voting

2. Who We Are Volunteers Goals To inform you about your right to vote To motivate you to carry the message forward

3. Why Vote? It’s Easy! Millions Do It Every Year Lots of Help Out There To help you prepare At polling place Wallet cards

4. Why Vote? Still – we have a Problem Though millions vote, too many do not

5. Why Vote? Elected Officials Make MOST Big Decisions Examples: Schools Voting Social Security and Medicare Immigration Minimum Wage Safety Military

6. Why Vote? Politicians Listen to People Who Vote!

7. Why Vote? An Elected Office is a Job like any other Job! Voters Make Hiring Decisions!

8. Why Vote? The People are Responsible for Seeing that Good Representatives are Elected Healthy Communities with Opportunity for All Require That All the People Participate It’s the right thing to do.

9. Why Vote? Questions And Answers ? ? ? ? ?

10. Voter Jeopardy! Answer: Elected officials listen to them. Question: Who are People that Vote? Answer: Decisions about schools, immigration, taxes, streets, police, social security, etc. Question: What decisions are made by elected officials? Answer: The people ultimately responsible for decisions made by elected officials. Question: Who are the Voters – and the people who don’t vote? $100 $200 $300 Category: Why Vote?

11. What Government Does : Local (City and School District) Headed by Mayor and City Council (city) or School Board Public Safety Police Fire Ambulance Streets Water, Sewer, Garbage Parks and Recreation Zoning Schools

12. What Government Does: County Headed by County Judge and Commissioners Court Parkland Hospital Sherriff’s Office and Jail County Roads Public Clinics Elections

13. What Government Does : State Headed by Governor etc, State Legislature (House of Representatives and Senators) and State School Board Shares Responsibility with Local & Federal School Finance School Curriculum Medicaid Highways

14. What Government Does: Federal Headed by President and Congress (House of Representatives and Senators) Social Security Medicare Medicaid (shared with State) Military Matters Education (Pell grants, special ed, school lunch & breakfast ) Regulates banks, credit cards, safety, transportation, environment, etc

15. What Government Does : Judicial Many judges are elected Local Districts Countywide Districts Statewide Federal Judges including Supreme Court judges are Not ELECTED but appointed

16. How Government is Paid For : Taxes and Fees Government services are paid for through taxes and fees. You decide: More Services or Less Taxes and Fees?

17. What Government Does Questions And Answers ? ? ? ? ?

18. Voter Jeopardy! Answer: It handles fire, streets, water, sewer, etc. Question: What does the City do? Answer: It shares most responsibilities with others. Question: What does the State do? Answer: They run the Federal Government together. Question: What do the President & Congress Do? $100 $200 $300 Category: What Government Does

19. Nuts & Bolts of Voting Remember – Voting is Easy! Millions do it every year Lots of help for new voters: To help you prepare to vote Helpful people at the polling place Wallet cards

20. Nuts & Bolts of Voting Voter Information Sources Dallas County Elections: Check your registration status, early voting and election day locations and times, sample ballots, useful links. DalCoElections.org 214.637.7937 League of Women Voters Dallas: Candidate information, elected officials information and contacts, voter registration and rights. LWVDallas.org 214.688.4125 Dallas Morning News: Candidate information and endorsements, current political and government news. DallasNews.com See also political party websites (DallasDemocrats.org, DallasGOP.org, DallasGreens.net, LPDallas.org) candidate websites and government websites (DallasCityHall.com, DallasCounty.org, DallasISD.org, etc.) For Your Wallet or Purse

21. Nuts & Bolts of Voting Registration Who can vote Preparation Where and when you can vote What you will be voting on DalCoElections has basics Other sources tell about candidates & issues

22. Nuts & Bolts of Voting For Your Wallet or Purse Voting Tips Photo ID: When you vote, take your voter registration card and acceptable photo id, such as CURRENT TDL, or Texas ID. (Student ID not accepted.) If you move/change name: Update voter registration when you move or change your name. Request registration form from county elections office or Texas Secretary of State (sos.state.tx.us/elections) Early voting: You can vote early during 2 weeks before election day at any polling place in your county. Vote early to avoid lines at convenient times and places. Election types: March: Primary (political parties choose candidate for November General election) May: Local (nonpartisan candidates for city council, school board) November: General (candidates from political parties compete for office) Runoff: If no candidate in an election receives over 50% of the votes. Other: Special elections like bond issues, constitutional amendments.

23. Nuts & Bolts of Voting Early Voting (recommended) For about two weeks prior to election day Weekend and evening times available Vote ANYWHERE in County that’s convenient Seldom are there lines Election Day Voting Must vote in precinct (ie, near where you live)

24. Nuts & Bolts of Voting Types of elections: Partisan Candidates run by Party (Republicans, Democrats, etc) Primaries versus General election Examples: President, Congress, County Non Partisan (no political party affiliation) Local City Council, School Board Referendums Runoffs

25. Nuts & Bolts of Voting Your Ballot May be Lengthy Look it up in advance so no surprises Don’t have to vote on every single office if not comfortable Straight Party Voting Option for partisan elections

26. Nuts & Bolts of Voting Questions And Answers ? ? ? ? ?

27. Voter Jeopardy! Answer: Enables you to vote at a polling place of your choice, two weeks before election day, at convenient times. Question: What is “Early Voting”? Answer: Elections Where Political Parties choose their candidates for the General Election. Question: What is a “Primary Election”? Answer: Website where you can find when and where to vote, and what will be on your ballot. Question: What is “DalCoElections.org”? $100 $200 $300 Category: Nuts & Bolts of Voting

28. New Photo ID Law New Law Passed in 2011 by State Not In Effect Yet BUT You Should Be Prepared!* * Awaiting judgment of Federal Court as to whether or not the law complies with Voting Rights Act.

29. New Photo ID Law Acceptable ID’s Must be current Cannot have expired more than 60 days ago Acceptable IDs: Texas Driver’s License Texas ID Passport Immigration Papers Military ID Concealed Handgun License Student ID NOT Acceptable

30. New Photo ID Law Name Match-up Should be exact What happens if it isn’t exact? Exceptions Disabled Can’t afford ID Vote by Mail

31. New Photo ID Law Questions And Answers ? ? ? ? ?

32. Voter Jeopardy! Answer: Current Driver’s License, State ID, Passport, Immigration Papers, Military ID, Handgun License. Question: What are the acceptable photo id’s for voters? Answer: Student photo ID. Question: What is not an acceptable photo ID for a voter? Answer: Should match on Voter Registration and Photo ID. Question: What is your name? $100 $200 $300 Category: The New Photo ID Law

33. Can I Ask a Favor? Be a Warrior for Voting Spread the Word!

34. Become a Voter! Register And Practice