Here's What's Hot On CBS11TV.COM:
Mar 4, 2008 6:16 pm US/Central
The Texas Two Step: What Voters Need To Know
DALLAS (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
The Texas Two Step. We've all heard of it. Some have even mastered it. Now voters will have to get ready for a new dance.
"We're encouraging all of our supporters to vote early, and then they need to come back to caucus," said Debbie Mesloh, a spokesperson for Sen. Barack Obama's campaign.
Democrats voting in the Texas primary must go through two steps.
Whether voting early or on March 4, you must first cast your vote at the polls. Then on March 4, 15 minutes after the polls close, you must return to your local precinct to reaffirm your vote.
"I don't see that either candidate has an advantage or disadvantage with the system. They know what the rules are," said Jess Hay, a spokesperson for Sen. Hillary Clinton's campaign.
A total of 228 Democratic delegates in Texas are at stake. Of those, 126 of them will be decided in the voting booth, while another 67 delegates will be decided when the voters gather after the polls close.
That leaves 35 undecided delegates, better known as super delegates. The remaining 35 are the delegates that Obama and Clinton will try to win over before the Democratic National Convention in Denver.
Texas Democrats are not permitted to caucus after the polls close, unless they first cast their votes in the voting booths. However, those who vote early or on March 4 are not required to caucus.
Although their vote will count toward deciding 126 of the delegates, voters who choose not to return after the polls close will have no say where the additional 67 delegates will go.
On the Republican side, it's far less complicated.
"The candidate will know that night, on March 4, when the votes are tabulated," said Chris Davis, Texas Republican Executive Committee. "They will know where they stand and how many delegates they get."
In other words, it's winner take all for either John McCain or Mike Huckabee. In order to win all 140 Republican delegates in Texas, a candidate must get more than 50 percent of the popular vote. If neither reaches that level, then the delegates are divided proportionate to the vote, but only if the candidates get at least 20 percent of the vote.
Texas Republicans also can gather after the polls close, but not to caucus. Instead, the meetings are for those voters who wish to become delegates.
Click on a county below to find early voting locations:
Dallas |
Tarrant |
Denton |
Collin
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Strange Photos 2009
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Reporting
