Voting In Texas

Texas Voting, Campaigns, and Elections Voter turnout in Texas is below the national average in the United States when it comes to national elections. Statewide elections have an even lower voter turnout in Texas. In order to vote in Texas, a person must be registered to vote. The registration process has been improved throughout the years after the reconstruction period. The current system is fair and is in compliance with the United States Constitution, specifically, the Fourteenth Amendment. The registration process in Texas does more than just allow a citizen to exercise their rights, it allows for the state do determine actual voter turnout compared to registered voters. Although it really does very little in determining the actual reason why a person decided to not show up on Election Day or to cast a ballot early. Voter turnout in the United States compared to other countries is extremely low. The text book explains that low voter turnout in Texas can be attributed to wealth, race and education. If we attribute the same reasons as to why voter turnout
nationwide is low, then we as a nation are in trouble. The low number of registered voters that actually vote could be attributed to the actual registration process. Not all states allow same day registration, such as Texas, but if all states allowed you to register and vote on the same day, maybe more would show up and vote. Maybe just out of convenience. Other factors that may affect the level of voter turnout in the United States could be, having the Election Day on a Tuesday. Sure it is tradition, because when citizens had to travel by horse and buggy, and Monday was the travel day, it made sense. Personally, I work on Tuesdays and it is very inconvenient for me to leave work to vote. Maybe if Election Day were to fall on a weekend, or have more than one day to vote, voter turnout may increase. Voter turnout in Texas compared to the other states in America as a whole is low. The text book explains that Texas had the sixth-highest rate of poverty compared in the 2010 U.S. Census. Historically, poor people do not vote, and when poor citizens do not vote, the overall turnout is low. Texas is consistently about eight percent lower in the nation average in voter turnout compared to the rest of America. Less than half of the eligible voters in Texas have turned out for presidential elections in the last thirty plus years. Historic and contemporary factors have led to a culture of low voter turnout in Texas.
Unfortunately, they are not much different and are not likely to change drastically in the near future. Historically, poor people do not vote. Historically the minorities are poor and have more liberal views on government. When poor people do not vote, their views of what the government should do for them becomes moot. The conservative Republican ticket wins the election not just because they win the majority, they just win the majority of who showed up on Election Day. Suffrage had been an issue prior to the mid-1970s. Even though the battle for democratic suffrage had been won and was over, voter turnout still has not improved greatly. According to the text, in 1976, 47.3 percent of voting aged citizens voted in the national election. In 2008, the number had only increased to 53.7
percent. In my opinion, voter turnout in Texas could possibly be increased. One way to increase voter turnout would be to allow same day voter registration. Sometimes, time itself gets away from a person, voter registration cards are only issued every two years. Texas may also benefit by imposing a state tax, the additional revenue could be pumped into the public education system. If historically the poor and uneducated do not vote then maybe it is time to educate the poor out of poverty.