Pandemic Voting

Assignment #1: Pandemic Voting.  70% of students will successfully analyze several articles regarding voting by mail, then determine the pros and cons for the upcoming November elections. 

[Assignment #1 fulfills the following Program Level Outcomes: Communication, Critical Thinking, Social and Personal Responsibility, as well as the following Course Level Outcomes: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 ]

Activity for Assessment:

We are in an election year at the same time we are facing a pandemic.  This posed some difficulty as we attempted to head the the polls to vote in the primary election season.  As we head into the presidential election season, and uncertainty about the pandemic, we need to better understand some of the options being presented by lawmakers.  Read the following articles and then answer each of the questions below:

1.) What are the rules in Texas regarding mail-in ballots (pre-COVID)?

2.) In the CNN article, what did the judge decide regarding the current election laws? How might this impact the upcoming elections?  What is the argument provided by Governor Abbott and others who disagree with the temporary injunction? Which do you agree with?

3.) As the current lawsuit looms, what is the role politics is taking on with regards to our health?  What does the Democratic Party gain if mail-in ballots become easier to obtain?  What does the Republic Party gain in keeping the laws as is?

4.) What are the Democrats hoping will happen, based on the Texas Tribune article?  What moves were recently made by the Supreme Court with regards to expanding voting by mail?  

5.) Overall, what are your thoughts, as a voter or potential voter, about this very controversial topic?

https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/17/politics/texas-voting-by-mail-disability-coronavirus/index.html

https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/texas-mail-voting-advantage-11915190?utm_source=Lone+Star+Project&utm_campaign=a6ecd08530-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_06_13_12_53_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_a3eb6877c7-a6ecd08530-34123153

https://www.texastribune.org/2020/07/02/us-supreme-court-Texas-lawsuit-mail-in-voting/

This assignment must follow MLA guidelines, be typed in Times New Roman, 12 pt. font, and be a minimum of 500 words with a works cited page.  The works cited are not included in the minimum word count. Any sources provided in the assignment prompt MUST be used within your paper and cited in your works cited.  Other sources used must be cited as well.