Blog 4

David Montgomery’s blog “Here’s Why Texas Voter Turnout Was So Low, And Why It’s Surging Now” on HuffPost covers how and why voter turnout has increased since our last presidential election. Montgomery writes this article to inform Texan’s on the increase of voter turnout since Trump’s election and what caused it to increase. The article describes the ways citizens helped influence those not registered to vote. HuffPost verifies information written by any blogger and corroborates information whenever possible to provide correct information to their readers.

This blog mentions how young voters and Latinos, who make up a large percent of Texas, are less likely to vote. During Donald Trump’s election, early voting levels raised and Trump’s negative comments about immigrants seems to energize minorities everywhere to vote. Trump plays a major part for our increase in voter turnout especially because our state is so diverse.

Non profit programs at the University of Texas gathered around campus to set up tables explaining the importance of voting and encouraging students to vote. Voto Latino registered more than 200,000 citizens during the election cycle. Lawsuits by students at different universities around Texas changed early voting restrictions making it easier for all citizens to vote. I agree that making voting easier and increasing the knowledge of citizens, will create a positive change in voter turnout during the next elections. If the passion for changing our voting system continues, voter turnout will also change in a positive direction.

Blog 3

William A. Galston, a senior at the Brookings Institution, wrote an opinionated article in the New York Times: Telling Americans to Vote or Else. Galston’s article covers voter turnout and why he believes voting should be mandatory. The intended audience for his article are citizens of the united states and the other 164 countries who have not adopted mandatory voting. Being a senior of a group that conducts research and educates the public, many people may find him to be a very credible person on this type of subject matter. In his article, Galston explains the increase of turnout in Australia after adopting mandatory voting. Although the data collected by Galston on Australia’s voting turnout was positive, I would have to disagree with his opinion. Yes, voter turnout will definitely increase if there is a punishment attached for those who do not vote, but citizens would be voting for all the wrong reasons. Instead of wanting to make a change in our democracy, people would be voting to not get punished. I believe many people would not take the time to educate themselves which will not help our country. Although, there is some way that this could work. All of the money that Galston claims mandatory voting will save can be used to educate the public on the candidates and their beliefs. More votes does not necessarily equal a better democracy unless the citizens are making educated votes.

Blog 2

Voter turnout is defined as the percentage of eligible voters who cast a ballot in an election. Midterm election hit a record high during the senate race, even though Texas has been known to have a low voter turnout. According to an article from THE WALL STREET JOURNAL by Aaron Zitner and Dante Chinni, Austin had more votes in the midterm election than the presidential election. The article goes on explaining the rarity of midterm elections surpassing presidential elections which has not been seen in centuries. The article compares vote casts from the presidential election in 2016, and the recent senate election in Texas, Montana, and Georgia. Focusing on Texas, the article explains the increase of votes in and around Austin. “Together, three counties in the Austin area produced nearly 24,000 more votes than they did in the 2016 presidential election”. Although the democratic senate won in those counties, Beto O’Rourke lost statewide by less than three percentage points. This article is filled with information about voter turnout, not only in Texas but in different parts of the United States. Professor Michael McDonald gives calculations of voter turnout which goes as far back as 1914. Reading this article will help increase your knowledge of the voter turnout during the midterm election and the presidential election of 2016.