A proposed
amendment to the Texas constitution banning same-sex
marriage probably will be the big ballot draw as
Texans start casting early votes Monday for the
November 8 election. Proposition 2 would define marriage
as being only between one man and one woman. State law
already bans same-sex marriage, but the amendment
would cement that definition in the state constitution.
Groups on both sides of the same-sex marriage
debate are working to stir interest in the ballot
issue. The leader of the Republican Party of Texas is
aggressively speaking out in favor of the ban, while gay
rights groups are opposed to it. In all, there are
nine proposed amendments before voters. Turnout
historically is low for amendment elections in Texas. In
2003 just 12.5% of registered voters cast ballots.
Secretary of state Roger Williams, the chief
elections officer, hasn't projected what percentage of
the state's approximately 12.3 million registered
voters will show up for this election. He's urging
participation and emphasizing that constitutional amendments
can have more lasting impact than elected individuals.
"When you elect a person, you know they'll be back up
for reelection in two, four, or six years," he said.
"But constitutional amendments endure. This November
we hope that every Texan will go to the polls and make their
voices heard."
Texans are increasingly using early voting,
which runs through November 4 for this election. In
some recent statewide elections, early voting has
accounted for about one third of the total ballots cast.
The activist group No Nonsense in November,
which opposes the same-sex marriage ban, is hoping low
turnout will help defeat Proposition 2. "It's hard to
believe that Texas--of all states--can turn the
tide that is sweeping across the nation," the group's
Web site says. "As strange as it may seem, with
historically low voter turnout expected, Texas is
uniquely positioned to become the first state to defeat a
marriage amendment."
Texas Republican Party chair Tina Benkiser is
making a major push for passage of the same-sex
marriage ban and is urging followers to say "I do" to
Proposition 2. "Do you want schools to teach your
children and grandchildren that homosexual marriage is
normal? Do you want to undergo 'sensitivity training'
at the workplace to ensure that you don't favor
heterosexuality over homosexuality?... These are not
rhetorical questions--these are issues that we will
face if we fail to defend and protect marriage,"
Benkiser wrote in a recent message to Republicans.
(AP)
