TexasVotes

Blogging headlines, litigation, polls, returns and more on Texas elections.

[pewresearch]

63% of Republicans and 53% of Democrats say they are anticipating the midterm elections.

Last month, a Pew Research survey found that more Republican and Republican-leaning registered voters (53%) than Democrats and Democratic leaners (47%) were “very enthusiastic” about voting in this fall’s elections.

[texasvotes-blog]

Breaking: Governor Perry names Nandita Berry as new Secretary of State

Dallas Morning News:

Gov. Rick Perry appointed Houston attorney Nandita Berry as the state’s 109th Texas Secretary of State.

The governor’s press release notes that she will be the first Indian-American to assume the position, which serves as chief elections administrator and liaison with Mexico.

[texasvotes-blog]

Austin County reminds voters to update records

From The Sealy News:

Austin County Tax Assessor-Collector and Election Official Marcus Peña reminds voters to update voter registration and of the Voter ID Law.

“Austin County Tax Assessor-Collector Elections Division is working hard to make sure our voters understand our new Voter ID requirements and have all the information they need to cast their ballots,” said Peña. “We also want to inform our great voters to please update your voter information, such as if you have moved within the county, if your name does not match on your voter registration card and your Texas Driver License, please update your Voter Registration.”

Read the full story here.

[texasvotes-blog]

Programming note and Twitter link

Readers may have noticed a slow-down in posts lately. Fear not, TexasVotes will seriously pick up the pace in January 2014. Follow the conversation on Twitter.

[texasvotes-blog]

TX Civil Rights Project's Voter Registration Report Published

The Texas Civil Rights Project published a lengthy report claiming a number of weaknesses and opportunities for improvement regarding voter registration. A couple of high points:

2. Failure of high schools to comply with the law in registering of-age students as voters, as they are required to do by law.

4. Lack of agency registration of voters, when they apply for services, as required by law. Seven agencies and governmental entities are mandated by statute to register voters, and the Secretary is empowered to require others to do the same.

8. Lack of effective statutory remedies in the Election Code for noncompliance with legal requirements.

Read or download the full report here.

[texasvotes-blog]

AG Candidate Dan Branch running on voter ID

The Dan Branch camp released a web ad today touting its support for Texas' voter ID law currently being litigated in federal court.

This is not the first election reform message from Branch this year. In October, the AG candidate's press office caused some confusion when it released a statement leading readers to believe that Houston-based True the Vote endorsed the campaign for offering a 'Voter Fraud Task Force.' The watchdog later clarified to Quorum Report:

Last night, True the Vote posted a clarification on its website. They said, "We appreciate all good ideas on election integrity and voting policy regardless of the source. To confuse appreciation with a partisan endorsement demonstrates a misunderstanding of what a nonpartisan educational organization can do."

This morning, spokesman Logan Churchwell took it a step further by pointing that neither Engelbrecht nor True the Vote had endorsed Branch.

h/t Dallas Morning News

[texasvotes-blog]

Texas working to reschedule voter ID trial date to 2015

Despite the September 2, 2014 trial date set for the consolidated lawsuits, Texas pressed the court this week to reconsider current schedules due to “logistical difficulties” that pre-midterm litigation could impose on respondents –particularly in their ability to execute an election.   

Texas noted that current dates could cause voter confusion both at the polls and by mail. Further, all printed training materials for distribution on the county level must be submitted on or before August 15.

According to the advisory:

If the State were forced to alter or even un-implement a voting law after providing election materials and substantial training, the likely result is unnecessary and avoidable confusion at the polling place. Attempting to re-educate poll workers (most of whom are volunteers) on such a short timetable is simply not feasible, and the result would likely include confusion, delay, and possibly even inconsistent enforcement of Texas’ election laws.

Additionally, one of the two outstanding intervention petitions was granted last week. The Texas Association of Hispanic County Judges and County Commissioners will be joining the United States et al. Houston-based True the Vote’s petition still awaits consideration. The Department of Justice clearly argued against TTV’s intervention.

[texasvotes-blog]

HB 529 forces City of Richardson's hand on electioneering rules

House Bill 529 will lead to adjustments in electioneering practices on public property during early voting. The Dallas Morning News reported this week:

Campaigning for a candidate is still forbidden within 100 feet of an outside door. The law also gives cities the flexibility to enact “reasonable regulations” regarding time, manner and place.

Current city rules in Richardson ban the placing of political signs on public property during early voting. People can hold signs as long as they’re outside the 100-foot boundary. Cars beyond that line can also advertise candidates as long as the owners remain on site.

The city does authorize political signs at polling places on election day, but they must be removed within 24 hours of the poll closing. It’s also illegal to erect signs on medians.

To comply with the new law, Richardson will have to allow political signs at the civic center during early voting, too.

Read more here.

[texasvotes-blog]

Link to 2013 Constitutional Amendment Election Returns

Via Texas Secretary of State.

[texasvotes-blog]

PPP: Abbott leads Davis by 15

Key findings from the PPP:

PPP's newest poll of next year's race for Governor of Texas finds Republican Greg Abbott expanding his lead over Democrat Wendy Davis. Abbott now has a 15 point advantage at 50/35. That's up a good amount from our last poll, conducted the week of Davis' famous filibuster, when Abbott led just 48/40. But it's pretty comparable to what we found in January when he had a 46/34 lead.

As Davis has become better known to Texans, her negatives have risen. 36% of voters have a favorable opinion of her to 42% with an unfavorable one. In June it was a positive 39/29 spread, meaning she's dropped a net 16 points since then. Voters are kind of indifferent toward Abbott, with 35% rating him favorably, 32% unfavorably, and 33% not having an opinion either way. For the most part though if you're a Republican in Texas who voters don't hate, you're going to be in pretty decent shape.

Complete polling data has been made available here.

[texasvotes-blog]

Empower The Vote Texas' 'Voting Toolkit'

Sondra Haltom's crew has five steps for voters to be ready on Election Day. Read the browser version of the email newsletter here.

[texasvotes-blog]

Conservative group True the Vote promotes return of on-campus voting to Prairie View A&M

The conservative election watchdog group, True the Vote, tweeted a seemingly mundane image from the grounds of historic HBCU Prairie View A&M University today:

(Courtesy of True the Vote's Twitter feed)

The would-be local issue about polling place location garnered national attention among civil rights and election law focused media. The New York Times/Texas Tribune and election administration expert Doug Chapin heralded True the Vote's 'incredibly detailed' proposal to return the local precinct voting place to a central campus location.

TexasVotes heard around noon today that turnout has outperformed previous off-year elections.

[texasvotes-blog]

Voter ID leading to major friction in Dallas County Commissioner's Court

Throughout the run-up to the 2013 Election, TexasVotes has published schedules for mobile voter ID units scattered throughout the state, courtesy of the DPS and Secretary of State. One county noticeably missing in the tour was Dallas. The Dallas Morning News reports on continued drama in the county commissioner's court today:

At issue was whether county-owned property – specifically the county’s Health and Human Services building – should’ve been made available to Texas Secretary of State John Steen for a press conference ahead of Tuesday’s election.

The event was at first OKed. But then County Administrator Darryl Martin – after consulting with Jenkins and the district attorney’s office – reversed course because of apparent concerns related to the county’s lawsuit against the state over the voter ID law.

Cantrell, a Republican, ripped into Jenkins for having “snubbed the top elections official in the state of Texas.” He accused the Democrat of making “everything political” and charged the judge with flouting established county policy.

This issue will no doubt continue to heat up as US. v. Texas continues in federal court.

[texasvotes-blog]

South Texas woman convicted of absentee voter fraud

While Texas media are dominated with voter ID updates, a once high-profile voter fraud case has led to a conviction with little fanfare. AP reports:

A South Texas woman has pleaded guilty in federal court in Brownsville to voting multiple times in a 2012 primary runoff election.

The U.S. Attorney's Office says Sonia Leticia Solis forged absentee ballot applications for people she claimed were disabled. The scheme gave the 55-year-old five additional votes in the runoff election for the newly created 34th Congressional District. She pleaded guilty on Monday.

Solis faces five years in prison.

[texasvotes-blog]

Ballot Language for the November 5, 2013 Constitutional Amendment Election

Provided by TX SOS:

Proposition 1

"The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide for an exemption from ad valorem taxation of all or part of the market value of the residence homestead of the surviving spouse of a member of the armed services of the United States who is killed in action."

Proposition 2

“The constitutional amendment eliminating an obsolete requirement for a State Medical Education Board and a State Medical Education Fund, neither of which is operational."

Proposition 3

"The constitutional amendment to authorize a political subdivision of this state to extend the number of days that aircraft parts that are exempt from ad valorem taxation due to their location in this state for a temporary period may be located in this state for purposes of qualifying for the tax exemption."

Proposition 4

“The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide for an exemption from ad valorem taxation of part of the market value of the residence homestead of a partially disabled veteran or the surviving spouse of a partially disabled veteran if the residence homestead was donated to the disabled veteran by a charitable organization.”

Proposition 5

“The constitutional amendment to authorize the making of a reverse mortgage loan for the purchase of homestead property and to amend lender disclosures and other requirements in connection with a reverse mortgage loan.”

Proposition 6

"The constitutional amendment providing for the creation of the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas and the State Water Implementation Revenue Fund for Texas to assist in the financing of priority projects in the state water plan to ensure the availability of adequate water resources."

Proposition 7

“The constitutional amendment authorizing a home-rule municipality to provide in its charter the procedure to fill a vacancy on its governing body for which the unexpired term is 12 months or less.”

Proposition 8

"The constitutional amendment repealing Section 7, Article IX, Texas Constitution, which relates to the creation of a hospital district in Hidalgo County."

Proposition 9

“The constitutional amendment relating to expanding the types of sanctions that may be assessed against a judge or justice following a formal proceeding instituted by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct.”

[texasvotes-blog]

Steen addresses voter ID 'misinformation'

Over the weekend, Texas Secretary of State John Steen took shots at stories and comments his office considered 'misinformation' about the Texas voter ID law:

"When it comes to voting, Texans need the facts, and the fact is that as long as your ID name and registration name are substantially similar, you will be able to vote a regular ballot, period. All you have to do is initial a box to confirm you are in fact the same person. You will not be flagged for voter fraud, you will not have to vote a provisional ballot, and you will not have to undergo a long process before you can cast your ballot. Your ballot will be a full, regular ballot that will be counted in exactly the same way as the ballots of other voters."

TexasVotes notes that most local headlines around the state made references to 'snags' with the law, yet reported that voters in these situations did indeed cast regular ballots.

This morning a USA Today story regarding ex-House Speaker Jim Wright led with a correction regarding Sen. Wendy Davis:

Note: This post was corrected to reflect Wendy Davis cast a regular ballot in early voting in Texas.

Texas state Sen. Wendy Davis, a Democrat, recently had to sign an affidavit because the name she uses on her driver's license doesn't match the one on voter rolls. She was allowed to cast a regular ballot in early voting for the election. Attorney General Greg Abbott, Davis' likely GOP opponent for governor next year, will also have to sign an affidavit to vote because the name on his driver's license doesn't match the one he uses on his voter registration.

The original version of the story reported that both Davis and Abbott could not vote regular ballots.

[texasvotes-blog]

Mobile DPS Units Issuing Free Voter ID Friday, Nov 1

Bowie County (all locations 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.)

Bowie County Courthouse

710 James Bowie Drive, New Boston

  Bi-State Justice Building (West Side Entrance)

100 N. State Line Ave., Texarkana

    Harris County (all locations 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.)

Northeast Community Center

9720 Spaulding St., Bldg 4, Houston

  Holman Street Baptist Church

3501 Holman, Houston

    Liberty County (all locations 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.)

Liberty County Courthouse Annex – West Entrance

1923 Sam Houston ST., Liberty

  County Annex Building

304 Campbell ST, Cleveland

    Val Verde County (all locations 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.)

Plaza del Sol Mall

2205 Veterans Blvd., Del Rio

  Wal-Mart

2410 Dodson Avenue, Del Rio

  Val Verde Community Center

1690 Cienegas Road, Del Rio

  Comstock School

101 Sanderson Street., Comstock

  Click here for a full schedule of the week.