Voting system issues

Regarding “Don’t blame the kids for not voting. Help them. (Opinion),” (Nov. 18): In 1876, when the Army of the North was withdrawn after Reconstruction following the war between the states, Texans wrote their new state constitution.

They hated the idea that people were equal. They hated the idea that formerly enslaved men could vote. And they particularly resented the dictatorship of the North.

So they wrote a constitution which still rules Texas and prevents anyone from getting control again. Until Greg Abbott began reaching down to thwart Democratic cities and counties, the plan has mostly worked.

Consider the 254 counties, which were probably the closest government to the majority of rural residents of that time. Power is split among five people on the Commissioners Court. The district attorney, the county attorney, the treasurer, the district clerk, the county clerk, the tax collector, the sheriff, and all the district court judges, county criminal court and civil court, probate, and juvenile justice judges are elected by “the people.” In Harris County, that’s more than 100 separately elected judges.

Long ballots? Divided governments? Information on each of these myriad elected officials? One of the letter writers doesn’t want everyone to vote — only informed voters. Thumbs last week shamed citizens who did not exercise their right to vote.

I’d say the system is working just as it was set up to work in 1876. Still, the Yankees haven’t retaken control, which may or may not bother you.

No one is in control. Sally Lehr, Houston

This piece made me think of the 1957 book by Anthony Downs, “An Economic Theory of Democracy.” He is an economist, and simplistically, his thesis is that Americans don’t vote because it costs too much. Not in money, but in the value people consider in trading off the time to vote.

This article hits on many hindrances and how the drive-thru, extended hours and facilitated mail-in voting helped during the pandemic. One potential obstacle I think doesn’t get enough attention is the parent, sometimes single, who must figure out who will watch the children while they go to vote (the drive-thru would help in that situation). Nothing has changed since 1957.

It would be wonderful to see higher voter participation rates. Thanks for writing about the problem.

Carol Abel Lewis, professor of transportation studies,

Texas Southern University

Regarding “Swifties’ business school takeover, Turner’s legacy book flameout (Thumbs),” (Nov. 20): I would give just about anything, even my Dick Tracy decoder ring, to be a fly on the wall during the editorial meetings to decide what to include in the “Thumbs” editorial. That has got to be comedy club worthy!

Seriously, asking 311 callers if they voted in this last mayoral election is a great idea. As a veteran of 10 years as precinct voting judge, I always said, based on questions I had to answer about the ballot, that prospective voters should be asked to name one thing each person they intended to vote for or against had said or done. Robert Mueller, Houston