Early voting in Travis County has reached unprecedented levels for a primary election, with nearly 171,000 individuals participating over the past two weeks. This turnout marks the highest engagement seen in almost two decades, surpassing every primary election since 2008.
Approximately 19% of all registered voters in the county cast their ballots during the early voting period. While this percentage might appear modest, it signifies a notable achievement for a Texas county known for its historically lower voter turnout, as highlighted by the Texas Policy Project.
Among the 920,114 registered voters in Travis County, 14.8% participated in the Democratic primary, while 3.77% engaged in the Republican primary. Notably, Democratic voter turnout has already exceeded that of the last gubernatorial primary in 2022, where only 13% of Democrats voted. This year, nearly 15% have done so ahead of Election Day.
Statewide, voter turnout is on the rise, especially among Democrats, who are eager to secure a statewide office for the first time since 1994. Political science expert Matthew Wilson from Southern Methodist University noted that previous elections often left Democrats feeling they had little chance of winning. However, the competitive race between U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett and Texas Rep. James Talarico for the Democratic Senate nomination has galvanized voters.
“It certainly means that there’s more hope on their side,” Wilson stated. “For a variety of reasons, they’ve got a fighting chance to post some real gains in the fall.”
Election Day is scheduled for Tuesday, March 3. Travis County residents can find resources to assist them in planning their vote.
