G O T V

Get Out The VoteA Workshop on Voting

Who We Are

Volunteers

GoalsTo inform you about your right to voteTo motivate you to carry the message

forward

Why Vote?

It’s Easy!

Millions Do It Every Year

Lots of Help Out ThereTo help you prepareAt polling placeWallet cards

Why Vote?

Still – we have a Problem

Though millions vote, too many do not

Why Vote?

Elected Officials Make MOST Big Decisions Examples:

Schools Voting Social Security and Medicare Immigration Minimum Wage Safety Military

Why Vote?

Politicians Listen to

People Who Vote!

Why Vote?

An Elected Office is a Job like any other Job!

Voters Make Hiring Decisions!

Why Vote?

The People are Responsible for Seeing that Good Representatives are Elected

Healthy Communities with Opportunity for All Require That All the People Participate

It’s the right thing to do.

Why Vote?

Questions

And

Answers

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? ??

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Voter Jeopardy!

Answer: Elected officials listen to them.Question: Who are People that Vote?

Answer: Decisions about schools, immigration, taxes, streets, police, social security, etc.

Question: What decisions are made by elected officials?

Answer: The people ultimately responsible for decisions made by elected officials.

Question: Who are the Voters – and the people who don’t vote?

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Category: Why Vote?

What Government Does: Local (City and School District)

Headed by Mayor and City Council (city) or School Board Public Safety

Police Fire Ambulance

Streets Water, Sewer, Garbage Parks and Recreation Zoning Schools

What Government Does:

County

Headed by County Judge and Commissioners Court Parkland Hospital Sherriff’s Office and Jail County Roads Public Clinics Elections

What Government Does: State

Headed by Governor etc, State Legislature (House of Representatives and Senators) and State School Board Shares Responsibility with Local & Federal School Finance School Curriculum Medicaid Highways

What Government Does:

Federal

Headed by President and Congress (House of Representatives and Senators) Social Security Medicare Medicaid (shared with State) Military Matters Education (Pell grants, special ed,

school lunch & breakfast) Regulates banks, credit cards, safety, transportation,

environment, etc

What Government Does: Judicial

Many judges are elected Local Districts Countywide Districts Statewide

Federal Judges including Supreme Court judges are Not ELECTED

but appointed

How Government is Paid For: Taxes and Fees

Government services are paid for through taxes and fees.

You decide: More Services or

Less Taxes and Fees?

What Government Does

Questions

And

Answers

?

? ??

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Voter Jeopardy!

Answer: It handles fire, streets, water, sewer, etc.

Question: What does the City do?

Answer: It shares most responsibilities with others.

Question: What does the State do?

Answer: They run the Federal Government together.

Question: What do the President & Congress Do?

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Category: What Government Does

Nuts & Bolts of Voting

Remember – Voting is Easy!

Millions do it every year

Lots of help for new voters: To help you prepare to vote Helpful people at the polling place Wallet cards

Nuts & Bolts of Voting

Voter Information Sources

Dallas County Elections: Check your registration status, early voting and election day locations and times,sample ballots, useful links.

DalCoElections.org 214.637.7937

League of Women Voters Dallas: Candidate information, elected officials information and contacts,voter registration and rights.

LWVDallas.org 214.688.4125

Dallas Morning News: Candidate information and endorsements, current political and government news.

DallasNews.com

See also political party websites (DallasDemocrats.org, DallasGOP.org, DallasGreens.net, LPDallas.org) candidate websites and government websites (DallasCityHall.com, DallasCounty.org, DallasISD.org, etc.)

For Your Wallet or Purse

Nuts & Bolts of Voting

Registration Who can vote

Preparation Where and when you can vote What you will be voting on DalCoElections has basics Other sources tell about

candidates & issues

Nuts & Bolts of Voting

For Your Wallet or Purse

Voting Tips

Photo ID: When you vote, take your voter registration card and acceptable photo id, such as CURRENT TDL, or Texas ID. (Student ID not accepted.)

If you move/change name: Update voter registration when you move or change your name. Request registration form from county elections office or Texas Secretary of State (sos.state.tx.us/elections)

Early voting: You can vote early during 2 weeks before election day at any polling place in your county. Vote early to avoid lines at convenient times and places.

Election types:March: Primary (political parties choose candidate for November General election)May: Local (nonpartisan candidates for city council, school board)November: General (candidates from political parties compete for office)Runoff: If no candidate in an election receives over 50% of the votes.Other: Special elections like bond issues, constitutional amendments.

Nuts & Bolts of Voting

Early Voting (recommended) For about two weeks prior to election day Weekend and evening times available Vote ANYWHERE in County that’s convenient Seldom are there lines

Election Day Voting Must vote in precinct

(ie, near where you live)

Nuts & Bolts of Voting

Types of elections: Partisan

Candidates run by Party (Republicans, Democrats, etc) Primaries versus General election Examples: President, Congress, County

Non Partisan (no political party affiliation) Local City Council, School Board Referendums

Runoffs

Nuts & Bolts of Voting

Your Ballot May be Lengthy Look it up in advance so no surprises Don’t have to vote on every single office if not

comfortable

Straight Party Voting Option for partisan elections

Nuts & Bolts of Voting

Questions

And

Answers

?

? ??

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Voter Jeopardy!

Answer: Enables you to vote at a polling place of your choice, two weeks before election day, at convenient times.Question: What is “Early Voting”?

Answer: Elections Where Political Parties choose their candidates for the General Election.Question: What is a “Primary Election”?

Answer: Website where you can find when and where to vote, and what will be on your ballot.Question: What is “DalCoElections.org”?

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Category: Nuts & Bolts of Voting

New Photo ID Law

New Law Passed in 2011 by State

Not In Effect Yet BUT You Should

Be Prepared!*

* Awaiting judgment of Federal Court as to

whether or not the law complies with Voting Rights

Act.

New Photo ID Law

Acceptable ID’s Must be current

Cannot have expired more than 60 days ago Acceptable IDs:

Texas Driver’s License Texas ID Passport Immigration Papers Military ID Concealed Handgun License

Student ID NOT Acceptable

New Photo ID Law

Name Match-up Should be exact What happens if it isn’t exact?

Exceptions Disabled Can’t afford ID Vote by Mail

New Photo ID Law

Questions

And

Answers

?

? ??

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Voter Jeopardy!

Answer: Current Driver’s License, State ID, Passport, Immigration Papers, Military ID, Handgun License.

Question: What are the acceptable photo id’s for voters?

Answer: Student photo ID.Question: What is not an acceptable photo ID for a

voter?

Answer: Should match on Voter Registration and Photo ID.Question: What is your name?

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Category: The New Photo ID Law

Can I Ask a Favor?

Be a Warrior for Voting

Spread the Word!

Become a Voter!

Register

And

Practice