Any assessment, partisan or non-partisan, of Texas (and local) voter turnout thus far in this mid-term election year has to be negative. Either Texas voters are lazy or don't care. I wonder what recent developments confirming tea party strength here, combined with the open-seat gubernatorial race, will do to voter turnout in November. Will independents and mainstream Republicans stay home? Will the tea party resurgence excite those voters to turn out? Will Democrats, incensed by what they perceive as a far right trend in Texas, go the extra mile when it really counts? Stay tuned...
mid-term election turnout 2014?
#1
Posted 29 May 2014 - 08:12 AM
#2
Posted 29 May 2014 - 08:39 AM
I keep asking the question, why no instant runoff ballots in Texas? If you think the mid-term turnout is bad, check out the runoffs!
http://en.wikipedia....t-runoff_voting
#3
Posted 29 May 2014 - 09:34 AM
Interesting voting scheme. But how would that affect voter turnout?
#4
Posted 29 May 2014 - 10:26 AM
It probably would do very little to help turnout, but it would eliminate the wasteful expense of runoff elections that have even lower turnout and still cost the same.
#5
Posted 29 May 2014 - 04:15 PM
It probably would do very little to help turnout, but it would eliminate the wasteful expense of runoff elections that have even lower turnout and still cost the same.
Exactly. The runoffs cost tens of thousands for a single district in Fort Worth. For the whole city it's over $100k. As long as it's not against Texas Law, Fort Worth could implement this tomorrow. I keep asking about it, but people look at me like I have two heads.
#6
Posted 02 October 2014 - 09:39 AM
After considerable thought as to the effect of a liberalized campaign financing system (e.g., Citizens United-style fundraising) on voter turnout, I have come to the conclusion that all the money in the world paid for all the positive or negative campaign ads isn't worth a hill of beans if people don't want to go to the polls. Advertising can entice a horse with the best water trough, but it can't make him go there to drink from it.
- FWFD1247 likes this
#7
Posted 09 October 2014 - 12:10 PM
This article on the MSNBC website is a possible heads-up regarding the mid-term election in Texas, just a few weeks away. The increase in voter registration among Hispanics, and others, may mean something as to the outcome, provided these new voters actually go to the polls. This a political observation, not intended to be a partisan statement.
http://www.msnbc.com...argest-counties
- renamerusk and FWFD1247 like this
#8
Posted 13 October 2014 - 10:56 AM
An additional thought related to local turnout. Anyone believe the new Will Rogers Arena propositions will increase voter turnout here in Fort Worth? Or will it be another one of those off-year propositions that pass by the margin of interested proponents who show up at the polls versus those who might have been against it but don't bother voting?
#9
Posted 13 October 2014 - 01:23 PM
Anyone believe the new Will Rogers Arena propositions will increase voter turnout here in Fort Worth?
I don't think more people will vote based on the Will Rogers Arena. It will be the same 30% to 35% of voters that always come out for the midterm elections.
An optimist might say that gives each voter the opportunity to have a larger impact on the issues that are of interest to them. It should make it possible for "interested parties" to have an impact, whether that's getting the arena passed, or shutting it down. That seems appropriate to me. As somebody that votes every time I have a chance, I don't waste a minute worrying about all those people who are disenfranchised by their own indifference. It does not bother me that in effect, I get to vote for myself and the three other people who didn't bother to show up to cast their ballots!
#10
Posted 14 October 2014 - 03:18 PM
#11
Posted 04 November 2014 - 01:51 PM
Looks like the rain may dampen voter turnout in our area.
#12
Posted 04 November 2014 - 03:59 PM
Is there any organized opposition to the arena proposal? Opposition groups tend to drive turn out and, if any has formed for this initiative, they haven't gotten a lick of coverage from the local media. I'll give the city credit for doing a good job of selling it to this point. I haven't seen a ton of coverage for the arena proposal, but the sponsored posts on Facebook that have circulated the last few days direct you to a high quality website.
I don't know of any. I would, but what's the point? They've already said that if the vote fails, they're just going to find some other way to pay for it. The old money wants their arena, and they're going to get it, and there's not a thing the FW citizenry can do about it, so hello, apathy.
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Kara B.
#13
Posted 06 November 2014 - 10:39 PM
Years ago the, "old money" proposed a bond issue to expand and renovate Will Rogers Auditorium. That plan was soundly defeated by the voters. That's why Bass Hall was built with private funds. "Old money" doesn't always get what they want.
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