1. U.S. and Texas Politics and Constitution Elections, Campaigns and Voting March 10, 2015
j. Bryan Cole
POLS 1336

2. Department Open House Wednesday, March 11 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM PGH 448
Welcoming all potential and current majors and minors to an opportunity to celebrate the spring semester and to meet your professors and undergraduate advisors to learn more about:
Requirements for the major
Minors and emphases within the discipline
Internship opportunities
Careers for majors and minors in political science
Assistance in applying to graduate school
Light refreshments served.

3. Introductory Remarks

4. Overview of Next Few Classes
We are now getting into the heart of political participation, and the next 4 chapters or so deal specifically with elections
Outline of Elections, Campaigns and Voting
Elections, Campaigns and Voting; focus is primarily from the perspective of voters (we the people!)
Political Ideologies (covered in Chapter 1)
Presidential and Congressional Elections
Campaign Finance

5. What is Political Participation?
Political participation: activity that has the intent or effect of influencing government action-either directly by affecting the making or implementation of public policy or indirectly by influencing the selection of people who make those policies

6. Examples of Political Participation

7. Examples of Political Participation

8. Questions to Consider
Why study political participation (and trends in it)?
Why doesn’t everyone participate in politics?
Should everyone participate in politics?

9. Efforts to Expand Suffrage, Ease Registration Requirements and Voting Procedures

10. History of Suffrage in the United States
Suffrage (the right to vote) initially restricted to white, male landowners
Even as it has expanded rapidly, many people still do not vote

11. History of Suffrage in the United States
Then: Expanding Suffrage
Now: Making Voting Easier
15th Amendment (1870) – Black males, 21+
19th Amendment (1920) – Women
23rd Amendment (1961) – Washington, D.C. residents
24th Amendment (1964) – Poll taxes outlawed
26th Amendment (1971) – year olds
Likewise, remember the Voting Rights Act of 1965
Motor voter
Shorter closing dates
Election and same day registration
Early voting

12. Effects of Voting Rights Act

13. Do you think more people will vote if states pass laws making registration and voting easier?
Yes No
Not sure

14. National Voter Registration Act - 1993
Combines voter registration with other bureaucratic tasks
AKA Motor Voter
DMV and voter registration in one
Also allows registration at public assistance agencies
Intended to help reduce the registration requirement…Did it work?

15. Voter Registration Reforms
Onerous legal barriers are now gone (and still being removed)
Shorter closing dates
Closing date: date by which one must register in order to vote in a given election
In Texas: 30 days
Residency Requirements – Texas law doesn’t include one

16. Voter Registration Reforms
Election Day Registration (EDR)
Same Day Registration (SDR)
No closing date; just register at your polling place
List of States with Election Day Registration, Source: National Council of State Legislatures
Registering and voting before the election
Usually occurs during early voting

17. Early Voting
Being able to vote before Election Day without having to offer an excuse
Allowed in Texas
May be either in person or by mail (Texas generally has in person only)
President Obama Promotes Early Voting in Illinois, October 20, 2014
States with Early Voting in 2012, Source: National Council of State Legislatures
According to the Census Bureau, about 31.6 percent of ballots cast in 2012 were cast early

18. America’s Decline in Voter Turnout

20. A Cost-Benefit Analysis of Voting
Costs/Drawbacks to Voting
Benefits

21. A Cost-Benefits Analysis of Voting
Costs/Drawbacks to Voting
Benefits

22. Who Votes?

23. Who Participates? Factors Affecting Political Participation
Education
The better educated you are, the more likely you are to vote…why?
The most important of these factors
Income
Higher income people are more likely to vote
But this effect goes away once you control for education

25. Factors Affecting Political Participation
Gender
This has changed during the 20th century…
Which gender do you think is currently more likely to vote?
Race
Whites had previously outnumbered blacks
In 2012 more blacks than whites voted
These factors are often correlated with one another

27. Social Desirability Bias
How Do We Know?
Social Desirability Bias

28. How Do We Know?
Not surprisingly, polls will ask people whether they voted
But, they have to watch for social desirability bias
Definition: trying to find favor in the eyes of an interviewer
Applies for people’s views and actions, including non-politically

29. Social Desirability Bias in Action
“In talking to people about elections, we often find that a lot of people were not able to vote because they weren't registered, they were sick, or they didn't have time. How about you – did you vote in the November 2004 election?”
1-Yes, I did vote in the 2004 Election
2-No, I did not vote in the 2004 Election
According to this question, – 47.17% -- said they voted

30. Social Desirability Bias in Action
“In talking to people about elections, we often find that a lot of people were not able to vote because they weren't registered, they were sick, or they didn't have time. How about you – did you vote in the November 2004 election?”
1- I did not vote (in the election this November)
2- I thought about voting this time but didn't
3- I usually vote but didn't this time
4- I am sure I voted
According to this question, 35.29% -- Said they voted
Voter validation studies

31. Did you vote in the November 2012 presidential election?
No, I did not vote in the election
No, I didn’t vote because I wasn’t 18 then
No, I didn’t vote because I’m not a US citizen
Yes, I am sure I voted

32. Discussion Questions
What could be done to encourage more people to vote (including people being informed voters)?
Have you ever participated in politics in a manner other than voting? How? If you were to participate above and beyond voting, how would you do so?

34. What about Photo ID Laws?

35. Photo ID Laws
In some states, voters are required to present photo IDs at their polling places
Republicans support these laws due to concerns about voter fraud and the overall integrity of the electoral process
Democrats oppose the laws, citing worries that minorities, college students and the elderly (who are less likely to have photo IDs) would be unable to vote

36. Photo ID Laws
Photo ID requirements upheld in Crawford v. Marion County Election Board (2008)
Current Requirements by State
Historically, Southern states had to obtain preapproval from the Justice Department in order to change laws, pursuant to the Voting Rights Act, Section 5

37. Shelby County v. Holder Supreme Court ruled on June 25, 2013:
Section 4 (the coverage formula) is unconstitutional
Section 5 is therefore void until Congress develops a new coverage formula
This decision has paved the way for photo ID law enforcement in many states

38. Do you think that Texas should require voters to present photo IDs at their polling places?
Yes No
Not sure

39. Photo ID in Texas
In light of Shelby v. Holder, Texas voters are now required to show a photo ID
Photo ID Guidelines for Texas Voters - Read BEFORE You Vote!

40. Parting Words… A public service announcement from Hollywood
Don't Vote 2 - The Sequel