SUBJECT: Texas Governement
The landmark ruling in the court case Shelby County v. Holder (2013; check out video in the module for more info about the case) has empowered and emboldened several states to implement and execute laws and practices that have the net effect of disenfranchising some groups of voters.
In Texas, for example, there were reports from Super Tuesday (March 3, 2020) that primary election voting was particularly onerous in majority-minority areas. This was reported in media outlets in counties that include Houston, DFW, San Antonio, and Austin. Texas joins several other states in which laws and official practices make voting more difficult and less accessible for certain groups.
Watch the video about voter purging in North Carolina (Texas has used similar practices to purge voter rolls) and also read the Texas Tribune article about voter disenfranchisement.
VIDEO: https://youtu.be/3AMz4iRFZCk
ARTICLE: https://www.texastribune.org/2020/11/06/texas-voting-access-turnout/
Please analyze and respond to all of these questions in your discussion post:
Some might argue that these are concerted efforts to disenfranchise black, brown, low income and young voters. Others might say these circumstances are simply unfortunate coincidences in the overall effort to ensure the integrity of elections. What is your opinion? Whichever side you choose to argue, relate your opinion back to concepts we have studied in the course.
How might the traditionalist, individualistic political culture of Texas factor in here?
Thinking about federalism, the role of administering elections is a power/responsibility reserved to the states. Should the federal government interfere? Why or why not?
What might be the short-term or long-term effects of practices like this on America’s democracy?
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