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?
Elected Officials Make MOST Big Decisions Examples:
Schools Voting Social Security and Medicare Immigration Minimum Wage Safety Military
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.
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?
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
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
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
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