Analysis of Voter Turnout in the 2024 Texas Primaries

The 2024 Texas primaries saw a significant drop in voter turnout, with Republicans casting 2.3 million ballots compared to Democrats’ 975,000. This decline in participation was most pronounced in urban counties like Harris, Bexar, Dallas, and Travis, as well as in border counties and fast-growing suburbs.

One possible reason for the decrease in turnout was the lack of competitiveness at the top of the Democratic ticket, with Joe Biden securing the nomination early. Additionally, the younger population in Texas, where the median age is 35.5, may have contributed to lower voter turnout, as only about 75,000 people under 30 voted early.

Political science experts like Brandon Rottinghaus and Bob Stein suggest that lack of competition in certain races, confusion over new voting requirements, and candidates not targeting new residents may have also played a role in the decline in voter participation.

Despite the drop in turnout, the 2024 primaries did see some competitive races, including the Democratic Senate primary won by U.S. Rep. Colin Allred. As Texas continues to experience population growth, it will be important to address factors that may be contributing to lower voter engagement in future elections.