Chapter 5 Elections in Texas

Texas voters select officials in all three branches. Texans vote on many more local offices than other states –County, city, public school districts, community college districts, utility districts, hospital districts, other special districts—it is an extensive list! State constitutional amendments and local tax policies

Primaries –In partisan contests, primaries are first election in the electoral cycle Many local races are nonpartisan, like city and school district contests. –Voters choose party nominee for general election –Administered in all 254 counties

Primaries Primary elections (2nd Tuesday in March) –Candidates file with parties –Parties pay fees to county governments to hold the elections, but fees don’t cover all costs. Runoff primary (2nd Tuesday in April) –If there is a runoff, those who did not vote in the other party’s primary, in March, can vote. Example: A person who voted in Democratic primary cannot vote in GOP runoff.

Elections Voters do not register by party in Texas. –Voters can vote in either party primary, but only one primary per election cycle. For example, one could vote in the Democratic primary in 2008, and the GOP primary in Candidates must win either: –a majority of the primary vote –or a run-off between the two highest vote-getters

Elections General Elections Governor and other major statewide contests coincide with midterm elections –Deliberately scheduled not to coincide with presidential race Diminish national partisan coattail effect Diminish positive impact state candidate could offer national candidates.

Special Elections –Special elections Used to fill vacant offices Grant approval for government borrowing –Example: Cities voting on public funding for professional sports team facilities Ratify amendments –Turnout very low in special elections Few know about the candidates, issues, or even the fact that an election is taking place. Far less media coverage

Third Parties Extremely hard to run as anything other than a Democrat or Republican –A few notable attempts, but all ultimately failed Rules for running for office are made by Democrats and Republicans –Partisans have a vested interest in making it difficult for others to challenge them.

State Elections Steps for Independents/Third Parties to run for statewide office –Candidates must obtain petition signatures equal to 1 percent of the total votes in the last governor’s race. –Signatures must come from registered voters who did not participate in any political party primary election. –Signature collection cannot begin until the day after the last primary election. –Voters may sign only one candidate’s petition.

Restrictions on the Franchise Texas has long and enduring history of restricting the right to vote Like many southern states, strongest resistance was to incorporate nonwhites into the electorate Battles over barriers to participation remain part of Texas politics today

Restrictions on the Franchise Women 1918 Texas legislature granted right to vote –Could vote in primaries and party conventions –Not allowed to vote in general elections 1919 Texas ratifies Nineteenth Amendment, allowing women to vote in all elections. –First southern state to ratify Nonwhite women not fully enfranchised. –White primaries and other racial barriers remained

Earlier Restrictions on the Franchise Poll tax –Equal to several days’ wages for a farm worker –Had to be paid in advance of election day –Politicians would often pay the fees of poor voters, which had a corrupting feel to it –Barrier to participation AND representation Minority candidates were not viable if minorities could not vote for them. –Banned by the Twenty-Fourth Amendment in 1964

Earlier Restrictions on the Franchise Early registration –Targeted migrant workers (voided in 1971) Property ownership –Required to vote in bond and tax elections Residency requirements –One year in state; six months in county Courts struck all down as violations of the Fourteenth Amendment

Earlier Restrictions on the Franchise White primary –Blacks were kept from having a political voice by being excluded from Democratic Party primaries. –Texas legislature passed a law allowing parties to create their own primary standards. Democrats in the legislature at the time, advanced this law with the plan to create white primaries Ruled unconstitutional –Nixon v. Condon (1932), Smith v. Allwright (1944)

Earlier Restrictions on the Franchise Competitive two-party systems –In competitive systems, the two parties are constantly looking for new voters. –Leads to expansion of the franchise –The Republican Party at the time had neither the power nor the incentives to bring nonwhites into the system.

Current Qualifications to Vote 18 years of age U.S. citizen Resident of Texas for 30 days Resident of the county for 30 days Cannot be a current felon –Texas felons can vote after completing sentence Must be mentally competent

Voter Turnout Texas turnout rates are very low –Usually rank among bottom five states on this metric All racial/ethnic groups in Texas have low turnout rates compared to national average and relative to most other states Despite ease of voter registration and voting processes, turnout remains low.

Voter Turnout Factors associated with Texas low turnout: –No statewide party competition –Little mobilization by either party relative to efforts in other states –Low socioeconomic status (income/education) –Younger population Those newly eligible to vote register at lower rates in part because they’ve had less opportunity. Compare to a 40-year-old who has been a member of the electorate longer and developed stronger political attachments

Voter Turnout Factors associated with Texas low turnout: –Large Latino population Rates lower due to combination of Latino age, lack of mobilization, lower SES, little local party competition –Not due to Latino noncitizen status Only American citizens allowed to vote – of course. Those not eligible to vote are never counted in official state, county or valid voter turnout rate reports/data. –For example, children don’t count in turnout rates because the law does not permit them to vote. It would be silly to assert that “toddlers are driving down our turnout rate”!

Voter Turnout Efforts to increase turnout –Motor Voter Laws –Early Voting Process More people registered via Motor Voter –Turnout remains low Texans increasingly choose to use the Early Voting option –But the overall rate remains low compared to other states and our own rate of turnout

Redistricting Texas gained four congressional seats during the 2010 apportionment process –Rate of population growth gave Texas more seats; 49 had population increases, but few actually gained representation. Partisan and interest group battles ensued as each sought to gain more congressional representatives. –As of 2012, the matter was unresolved and temporary maps were implemented until the next round in court.

Campaigns A serious campaign for statewide office in Texas is very expensive GOP Senate Primary—$26 million spent –Ted Cruz spent $7 million –David Dewhurst spent $19 million (and lost) Note: Cruz spent far less against his Democratic opponent in the general election Outside PACs also poured millions directly into advertising for this race, above and beyond the actual campaign spending.

Amount Raised by All Candidates in Texas, 2010, Listed by Political Party*

Campaign Contributions in Statewide Executive Offices: Texas General Elections 2010

Campaigns Why are Texas campaigns especially costly? Extensive travel (often by airplane) –El Paso to Houston is over 800 miles Large number of media markets Require experienced campaign professionals to run them Polling the large electorate is expensive