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Could Votes Be Obsolete?
That's the front-page headline of Sunday's dead-tree version of the article. The on-line version is less outrageous: Texas has record voter numbers, but primary schedule makes it hard for presidential contenders to mobilize them [Dallas News] Texas voters on Tuesday will start voting in the Democratic race for president, even though by the time primary Election Day rolls around, some of the candidates on the ballot may no longer be in the race. No pity for Iowans, or New Hampshirites, it seems. Early [Texas] voting starts Tuesday and ends Feb. 28. The primary is March 3, while the Nevada caucuses are on Feb. 22 and the South Carolina primary is Feb. 29. Therein lies the core of the big front-page issue this Sunday. That puts voters in an unusual predicament. It's possible that some contenders won't make it to Texas on March 3, and a vote for a candidate who dropped out would be wasted. And it's likely that the dynamic of the race will change after the more diverse populations in Nevada and South Carolina have their say. So why bother to vote in primaries? Let the Clintons choose! Nevertheless, Texans appear to be eager to vote. There are more voters on the rolls in Texas than at any point in its history. The state has 16.1 million eligible voters on the rolls. That's up from the 14.1 million voters eligible at a similar period in 2016, when Donald Trump was on his way to winning the White House. So the Democratic presidential primary could be flooded with new voters, as well as the tried and true. Look for a lot of crowing after the primary about how the high Dem turnout means Texas has turned blue. "I would never tell anyone to not vote at the most convenient time for you, but I think you're going to see a lot of high-information Democratic primary voters kind of sit out the first week, or even two, of early vote to see what comes out in Nevada and South Carolina," said a senior political analyst at the nonpartisan research group Third Way. "It wouldn't surprise me to see a relative dip in early voting here because of that." Signs and portents.  The schedule is another wrinkle in what's been the most unpredictable primary race in years. By having an early primary, states including Texas and California risk casting votes that become obsolete as the primary contest unfolds.Early voting has become extremely popular in Texas and typically accounts for at least half of the overall turnout. State Rep. Rhetta Bowers, D-Rowlett, said it is important for the Democratic presidential primary to attract a high number of voters. That would signal enthusiasm as the party aims at Trump and attempts to seize the Texas House. Republicans don't have a competitive presidential primary, but they want down-ballot races to draw voters. "If we show well, we will win well," said Bowers, a Joe Biden supporter in a Texas House seat being targeted by Republicans. Joe who? The Texas primary is the second biggest jewel, behind California, in the Super Tuesday sweepstakes. The outcome could boost or thwart the political campaigns of several candidates. March 3rd, kiddies. Posted by: Bobby 2020-02-16 |
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