In a state known for low voter turnout, South Central Texas stands out.
The five-county region served by the League of Women Voters South Cen - tral Texas - Colorado, DeWitt, Fayette, Gonzales, and Lavaca counties - has a consistent record of outperforming the state in voter participation. We an - alyzed turnout figures from seven elections spanning 2022 to 2026, and the re - sults surprised even us.
In nearly every election we examined, this region exceeded the statewide turnout rate in Texas. In the November 2024 pres - idential election, all five counties outperformed the state's 61.2% rate, with Fayette County reaching 73.5% and the regional av - erage at 68.1%. In the No - vember 2022 midterm, the regional average reached 53.1% - more than seven points above the state. In the March 2026 primary, already historic statewide at roughly 22% turnout, our five counties averaged near - ly 30%. The regional aver - age exceeded state turnout in every election we tracked - and that is not a fluke. But the full picture is more nuanced.
Not everything in the data is cause for celebra - tion. Turnout varies sharp - ly by election type, and constitutional amendment elections - the ones that reshape Texas property tax - es and individual rights for decades - draw the fewest voters, typically 15 to 26 percent in our region. Mu - nicipal elections are even more sobering: city council races, mayoral elections, and school board contests routinely see turnout in the single digits. In towns of 2,000 to 5,000 people, elections can be decided by a handful of votes. A small number of engaged citizens end up making decisions for everyone else.
One factor that clearly drives turnout is what ap - pears on the local ballot. In elections with multiple contested local races, turn -
out rises noticeably - and in years with fewer compet - itive seats, it tends to fall. In small communities like ours, a race for sheriff or county judge is not an ab - straction. People know the candidates. The simplest thing any voter can do is find out what's on their bal - lot - and then show up. No matter what's on the ballot, every vote matters.
Which brings us to right now - two elections that deserve your attention. Municipal elections are on May 2 (early voting ran April 2028). If you have not yet voted, the polls are open on Election Day. Pri - mary runoff elections fol - low on May 26 and will decide nominees where no candidate won a majority in the March primaries; ear - ly voting runs May 1822. Both elections will almost certainly see very low turn - out, which means your vote carries more weight than in almost any other contest on the calendar.
Low turnout in local elections should not be dis - couraging - it is an invita -
tion for all voters to wield their influence. Two elec - tions. May 2 and May 26. We hope you'll be there.
Our hope is that turn - out in South Central Texas keeps climbing - until the rest of Texas starts asking what we're doing right. The answer is simple: we are a voting community. It's just what we do. It's the right thing to do in the democra - cy we value.
To find out what is on your ballot, locate your polling place, or check your registration status, visit your county election de - partment's website or Vote - Texas.gov. For information, visit lwvsouthcentraltx.org or email us at lwvsouthcen -
