Legislature to consider changing the way Texans vote
By AMAN BATHEJA abatheja@star-telegram.com


After a year dominated by elections, state lawmakers are set to consider tweaking the way voters cast ballots in Texas.

More than 50 election-related bills have been filed for the upcoming legislative session in Austin.

Here’s a look at some of the areas in which the Legislature could decide to reform the democratic process.

Voter ID

Easily the most partisan election-related issue, most Republicans strongly favor requiring voters to show official identification, arguing that noncitizens are compromising the integrity of elections. Democrats often charge that such a measure would disenfranchise low-income and minority voters who are less likely to have photo identification. The debate brought about one of the most memorable moments of the last legislative session, when a seriously ill Democratic senator from Houston acted against doctor’s orders and showed up at the Capitol just to vote against a voter-ID bill. At least three new bills have already been filed on the issue.

Primary date

Few political observers expected the battle royal in last year’s Democratic presidential primary to reach Texas. For years, the state’s primary had been mired in irrelevance because the nominees had already been determined when it came time to vote in March. Who knows whether the primary would have been as interesting had Texas moved its date up to February, joining the Super Tuesday states, as was the plan in 2007? That measure was ultimately blocked due to problems with moving the filing deadlines for certain candidates. Backers are sure to argue that 2008 was a fluke that won’t happen again unless the primary is moved to the first Tuesday in February. Rep. Roberto Alonzo, D-Dallas, has filed a bill proposing just that.

Voting machines

More voters than ever used electronic voting machines in Texas last year, including Tarrant County. Critics still worry that votes recorded on such devices are vulnerable to glitches and manipulation. Several lawmakers in the last session wanted to require that every machine be outfitted with a cash register-style printer that would let voters check their votes against a paper receipt. The bills never came up for a vote, but two similar bills have been filed for the upcoming session.

Turnout boosters

Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, has filed several bills focused on encouraging more people to vote. In one bill, Ellis aims to make every election day, including primaries, a state holiday. Two other bills would allow same-day registration at the polling place; the voter could then cast a ballot immediately.

Straight-ticket options

Most states don’t allow straight-ticket voting, where checking one box votes for every candidate from a single party. But Texas does, and it is incredibly popular. Sen. Jeff Wentworth, R-San Antonio, has maintained for years that voters should be forced to consider the candidates in each race. Both he and San Antonio Republican Rep. Joe Straus, the likely new House speaker, have filed bills eliminating the straight-ticket option. Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, has filed a bill that would exempt only judicial races from straight-ticket voting, a move sure to ruffle judges who count on those votes to win re-election.

Caucus chaos

The night of the Texas primary was confused and frustrated many Democratic voters because precinct conventions around the state were delayed and often disorganized. Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, has hosted a series of hearings around the state about overhauling the process. He said he expects bills aimed at changing the system to be filed by early March. One possibility gaining traction: holding the precinct caucuses on the Saturday after the primary instead of that night.

AMAN BATHEJA, 817-685-3932
http://www.star-telegram.com/804/story/1134686.html