Chapter 5 Elections In Texas

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PRIMARY ELECTION

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A BALLOT VOTE IN WHICH CITIZENS SELECT A PARTY'S NOMINEE FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION.

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RUNOFF PRIMARY

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A SECOND PRIMARY ELECTION HELD BETWEEN THE TWO CANDIDATES WHO RECEIVED THE MOST VOTES IN THE FIRST PRIMARY ELECTION IF NO CANDIDATE IN THE FIRST PRIMARY ELECTION HAD RECEIVED A MAJORITY.

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OPEN PRIMARY

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A PRIMARY ELECTION IN WHICH ANY REGISTERED VOTER CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE CONTEST, REGARDLESS OF PARTY AFFILIATION.

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CLOSED PRIMARY

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A PRIMARY ELECTION IN WHICH ONLY REGISTERED MEMBERS OF A PARTICULAR POLITICAL PARTY CAN VOTE.

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GENERAL ELECTION

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THE ELECTION IN WHICH VOTERS CAST BALLOTS TO SELECT PUBLIC OFFICIALS.

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SPECIAL ELECTION

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AN ELECTION THAT IS NOT HELD ON A REGULARLY SCHEDULED BASIS; IN TEXAS; A SPECIAL ELECTION IN CALLED TO FILL A VACANCY IN OFFIC; TO GIVE APPROVAL FOR THE STATE GOVERNMENT TO BORROW MONEY OR TO RATIFY AMENDMENTS TO THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION.

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19TH AMENDMENT

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RATIFIED IN 1919, AMENDMENT GUARANTEEING WOMEN THE RIGHT TO VOTE.

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SUFFRAGE

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TERM REFERRING TO THE RIGHT TO VOTE.

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POLL TAX

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A STATE IMPOSED TAX ON VOTERS AS A PREREQUISITE FOR VOTING; POLL TAXES WERE RENDERED UNCONSTITUTIONAL IN NATIONAL ELECTIONS BY THE 24TH AMENDEMENT AND IN THE STATE ELECTIONS BY THE SUPREME COURT IN 1966

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EARLY REGISTRATION

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THE REQUIREMENT THAT A VOTER REGISTER LONG BEFORE THE GENERAL ELECTION; IN EFFECT IN TEXAS UNTIL 1971.

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WHITE PRIMARY

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PRIMARY ELECTION IN WHICH ONLY WHITE VOTERS ARE ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE.

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JAYBIRD PARTY

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AFTER THE WHITE PRIMARY WAS RULED UNCONSTITUTIONAL THIS OFFSET DEMOCRATIC PARTY PRESELECTED CANDIDATES FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY AND PROHIBITED AFRICAN AMERICANS FROM PARTICIPATING.

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VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1965

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IMPORTANT LEGISLATION PASSED IN ORDER TO ENDURE THAT AFRICAN AMERICANS WOULD BE GUARANTEED THAT RIGHT TO VOTE; RENEWED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE 1965, THE ACT ALSO PREVENTS THE DILUTION OF MINORITY VOTING STRENGTH.

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MOTOR VOTER LAW

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A NATIONAL ACT, PASSED IN 1993 THAT REQUIRES STATES TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO REGISTER TO VOTE WHEN APPLYING FOR A DRIVERS LICENSE.

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EARLY VOTING

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A PROCEDURE THAT ALLOWS VOTERS TO CAST BALLOTS DURING THE 2 WEEK PERIOD BEFORE THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED ELECTION DATE.

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REAPPORTIONMENT

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PROCESS THAT TAKES PLACE EVERY 10 YEARS TO DETERMINE HOW MANY CONGRESSIONAL SEATS EACH STATE WILL RECEIVE DEPENDING ON POPULATION SHIFTS.

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REDISTRICTING

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THE PROCESS OF REDRAWING ELECTION DISTRICTS AND REDISTRIBUTING LEGISLATIVE REPRESENTATIVES IN THE TEXAS HOUSE, TEXAS SENATE, AND U.S HOUSE; THIS PROCESS USUALLY HAPPENS EVERY 10 YEARS TO REFLECT SHIFTS IN POPULATION OR IN RESPONSE TO LEGAL CHALLENGES IN EXISTING DISTRICTS.

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PRE-CLEARANCE

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PROVISION UNDER SECTION 5 OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1965 REQUIRING ANY CHANGES TO ELECTION PROCEDURES OF DISTRICT LINES TO BE APPROVED BY THE U.S DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE OF THE U.S DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.