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Questions and Answers
What is the minimum percentage of votes a candidate must receive to avoid a runoff election in Texas primary elections?
Which form of identification is NOT acceptable for voting in Texas?
How many electoral votes does Texas have in a presidential election?
What is the earliest date when early voting typically starts in Texas?
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What must residents do at least 30 days before an election in Texas?
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What does the 24th Amendment prohibit?
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What is a key characteristic of PACs compared to Super PACs?
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Which amendment grants women the right to vote?
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What distinguishes Super PACs from traditional PACs?
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Which of the following describes Dark Money groups?
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What is the maximum amount a PAC can contribute directly to a candidate per election?
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What are minor parties often referred to as?
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What is the primary focus of Committee 501 organizations?
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What is the role of minor parties in the political system?
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Which of the following is NOT a requirement to vote in Texas?
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What are agents of socialization?
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Why might Texas have lower voting rates compared to other states?
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How many electoral votes are needed to win the presidency?
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What type of content do public broadcast services provide?
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When are Texas primary elections held during presidential election years?
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Which of the following is a reason for the staggered election cycles in Texas?
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Study Notes
US Voting Amendments
- 24th Amendment: Prohibits poll taxes or other taxes on voters in federal elections.
- 26th Amendment: Lowers the voting age to 18 years old.
- 19th Amendment: Grants women the right to vote.
- 15th Amendment: Prohibits denying a citizen the right to vote based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude.
Political Action Committees (PACs)
- PACs: Can raise and spend limited amounts of money. Contribute directly to candidates' campaigns with limits ($5,000 per candidate per election). Can coordinate with candidates.
- Super PACs: Raise and spend unlimited amounts of money from individuals, corporations, and unions. Cannot contribute directly to candidates but can spend freely on independent expenditures, like ads. Must operate independently of candidates and cannot coordinate spending or activities with any candidate's campaign.
527, 501, & Dark Money Groups
- Committee 527: Tax-exempt organization focused mainly on influencing candidate elections (political appointments), raising unlimited money.
- Committee 501: Tax-exempt organizations, including nonprofits, can engage in some political lobbying and advocacy, but not primarily focused on political campaigns.
- Dark Money Groups: Organizations engaging in political spending but do not disclose their donors. Example: 501 organizations.
Texas Voting Requirements
- Age: Be 18 by the day of registration.
- Residency: Resident of Texas and the county for at least 30 days.
- Citizenship: U.S. citizen (20 sum days in Texas).
- Felony: Can't be a felon (unless service is completed).
- Mental Capacity: Can't be deemed mentally incompetent.
Public Broadcast Services
- Non-commercial broadcasting organizations providing content intended to inform, educate, and entertain the public.
- Funded by government appropriations, viewer donations, and grants.
Texas Election Cycles & Rates
- Texas holds its primary elections in March of presidential election years.
- Multiple types of elections throughout the year.
- Texas has lower voting rates compared to other states for several reasons:
- Less competitive elections
- Lower education levels
- Many candidates
- Overall, Texas is not a swing state, so there's less external pressure to vote
Electoral College
- To win the presidency, a candidate needs a majority of the Electoral College votes.
- There are 538 electoral votes, needing at least 270 to win.
How Elections Work In Texas
- Primary Elections: Open primaries - registered members can participate, and no need to be registered with the party.
- Runoff Elections: If no candidate wins more than 50% of the vote in a primary, a runoff election occurs between the top two candidates.
- Registration: Residents must register to vote at least 30 days before an election. Registration can be done online, by mail, or in person.
- Early Voting: Starts 17 days before an election and ends 4 days before Election Day.
- Election Day Voting: Held on Election Day at assigned polling places.
- Voting Machines: Texas uses electronic voting machines.
- ID Requirement: Present an acceptable form of photo ID when voting in person.
- Absentee Voting: Texans can vote by mail if they meet certain criteria, such as being over 65, having a disability, or being out of the county on Election Day.
- Counting and Certification: After polls close, ballots are counted, and results are reported. Official results are certified by local election authorities.
- Electoral College: Texas has 38 electoral votes, allocated based on the statewide popular vote. The candidate with the most votes in Texas typically receives all of its electoral votes.
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Description
Explore the essential US voting amendments such as the 19th, 24th, and 26th, which established voting rights for women and eliminated poll taxes. Learn about Political Action Committees (PACs) and Super PACs, their roles in fundraising and campaign contributions. This quiz delves into the mechanics of the voting process and campaign finance in the United States.
