TEXAS SECRETARY OF STATE

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TEXAS SECRETARY OF STATE
GEOFFREY S. CONNOR
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I'm Texas Secretary of State Geoff Connor. As
Texans and Americans, we are all proud to live in
a democracy. However, it is important we remember
that democracy is dependent on a single act - the
act of voting. I want to encourage you to vote,
and now it's easier than ever to ensure your vote
counts. Vote early. Vote by mail. Vote on
Election Day. However you do it, be sure that in
2004, you celebrate freedom and vote.
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Successful Best Practices for Voter Outreach

• Project V.O.T.E. (Voters of Tomorrow through
  Education)
• Statewide Student Mock Elections
• Graduate Initiative
• Voter Education Brochures

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• This is our highly successful, pre-kindergarten
  through 12th grade curriculum that teaches
  students about the electoral and legislative
  processes. Implemented in 1992, Project V.O.T.E.
  is being taught in nearly 200 Independent School
  Districts in Texas, with nearly 15,000 educators
  teaching the program in the classroom. This
  curriculum is available on CD-ROM, through our
  website, and in hard-copy format.

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Geoffrey S. Connor
Secretary of State
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Student Mock Elections

• Since 1996, in conjunction with Project V.O.T.E.,
  we have organized statewide student mock
  elections, which have been extremely successful.
  In 2000, nearly half million students cast mock
  ballots for the office of President. Mock
  Election packets are mailed out to all 1,100
  school districts across the state, as well as
  mock ballots, featuring photographs of the
  Presidential candidates for the elementary
  students.
• Teachers can either telephone, fax, or e-mail
  their mock election results to our office, with
  the mock election results being announced after
  the close of the polls on Election Night.
• This September, the mock election component will
  be available on our website at
  www.sos.state.tx.us for teachers to download.

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• Graduate Initiative
• In May of 2004, a Congratulatory Card containing
  a personal message from Secretary Connor, as well
  as a voter registration application was mailed to
  nearly 250,000 graduates across the state of
  Texas. This has been a highly successful
  initiativewell received by Superintendents and
  Educators across the state, as well as the
  students. The cards were shipped to nearly
  1,900 High School campuses across the State.

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Voter Education Outreach

• The following items are available to the public
  for conducting voter registration campaigns
• Voter Registration applications
• Display Boxes
• Posters in both English and Spanish
• Brochures on Voter Registration, Volunteer Deputy
  Registrars, Conducting a Successful Voter
  Registration Drive, Early Voting, and Services
  Available to Voters with Special Needs
• A PowerPoint Presentation is available regarding
  Texas voter registration laws, and
• Finally, speakers are available on Voter
  Registration and Education topics.

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