Voter Turnout and Political Participation in Texas
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Question Number One:
Use these sources to answer the following questions
Based on the data presented in your table and the assigned readings, how would you rate Texas's voter turnout during elections (Presidential and Gubernatorial/Midterm elections)?
Use these sources to answer the following question: (Minimum one to two paragraphs long, five to six sentences for each paragraph)
Your data should be presented in a table, and be accompanied by a narrative explanation of your findings. (See attachment)
Question Number Two:
I. What factors influence voter turnout and registration? (Minimum one to two paragraphs long, 5 to 6 sentences for each paragraph)
II. How does Gerrymandering impact elections and representation? (Minimum one to two paragraphs long, 5 to 6 sentences for each paragraph)
III. How do you think the Texas voter ID law and recent attempts to purge voter rolls affect voter turnout in Texas? Where do you stand on these issues? Explain why you favor or oppose voter ID laws or challenge the status of voters on voter rolls. (Minimum three to four paragraphs long, 5 to 6 sentences for each paragraph)
Student’s Name
Lecturer’s Name
Course Name
Due Date
Voter Turnout and Political Participation in Texas
Voter Turnout: General Elections
Total Registered Voters: 2016-2018-2020-2022 General Elections
Percentage of registered voters who voted in the general elections: 2016-2018-2020-2022
Percentage of registered voters who did not vote in the general elections: 2016-2018-2020-2022
Presidential Elections 2016
15,101,087
59.39%
40.61%
Gubernatorial/Midterm Elections 2018
15,793,257
53.01%
46.99%
Presidential Elections 2020
16,955,519
66.73%
33.27%
Gubernatorial/ Midterm Elections 2022
17,672,143
45.85%
54.15%
Texas has had higher voter turnout rates in presidential elections than in gubernatorial/midterm elections over the past decades. The 2020 presidential election saw the highest recent turnout at 66.7%, while the 2018 gubernatorial race had the highest turnout of 53% (Ura; “Turnout and Voter Registration Figures (1970-Current”). This matches broader national trends of greater engagement during presidential contests (Frey). However, the 2018 midterms broke previous records for a Texas gubernatorial race, with over 8 million votes cast. While still below the national average, Texas voter participation has grown in recent election cycles (Frey). More Texans are making their voices heard.
The data indicates that Texas voters are more motivated to show up during presidential election years. For example, 2014 saw only 33.7% midterm turnout compared to 59.4% in the 2016 presidential race (“Texas Counties: Comparing the 2020 Presidential Election to 2016”). However, the steady rise in engagement suggests that voter mobilization efforts and demographic changes could positively impact participation. With over 11 million votes cast in 2020, Texas may be experiencing more competitive elections that drive increased turnout across the board (“Texas Counties: Comparing the 2020 Presidential Election to 2016”). Continued analysis of voting patterns is needed, but Texas does seem to be gradually bucking its historically low turnout reputation. If current trends hold, future races could see record voter engagement.
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