Voter Turnout in the 2018 Midterm

According to the Texas Tribune, Texas ranked sixth among the 50 states in increase in voter turnout compared to the last midterm election in 2014. However, Texas still ranks near the bottom in turnout of voting-eligible population, which is calculated by taking the number of votes cast and dividing it by the voting age population minus noncitizens and felons who have not had the voting rights restored.

Among Texas' 18,072,155 eligible voters, there were 8,371,655 votes cast in the contest for the U.S. Senate between incumbent Republican Ted Cruz and challenger Democrat Beto O'Rourke.


What is notable about the figure is that more than seven million Texans were registered but did not vote. Much less dramatic is the more than two million Texans who were not registered to vote. Consequently, changing Texas' restrictions on voter registration--to participate in an election, one must register at least 30 days prior to the election and there is no online voter registration--is less important in increasing voter turnout than mobilizing registered voters who, for some reason, do not participate.

Hopefully, the Texas legislature will consider removing the impediments to registration by adopting same-day registration and online registration; however, the political parties and affiliated groups will have to increase their mobilization efforts for Texans to be among the leaders in voter turnout among the states.

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