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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 Central Texas — Colorado, DeWitt, Fayette, Gonzales, and Lavaca counties — has a consistent record of outperforming the state in voter participation. We analyzed turnout figures from seven elections spanning from 2022 to 2026, and the results surprised even us.
In nearly every election we examined, this region exceeded the statewide turnout rate in Texas. In the November 2024 presidential election, all five counties outperformed the state’s 61.2% rate, with Fayette County reaching 73.5% and the regional average at 68.1%. In the November 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 nearly 30%. The regional average 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 celebration. Turnout varies sharply by election type, and constitutional amendment elections — the ones that reshape Texas property taxes and individual rights for decades — draw the fewest voters, typically 15 to 26 percent in our region. Municipal 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 appears on the local ballot. In elections with multiple contested local races, turnout rises noticeably — and in years with fewer competitive seats, it tends to fall. In small communities like ours, a race for sheriff or county judge is not an abstraction. People know the candidates. The simplest thing any voter can do is find out what’s on their ballot — 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 20–28). If you have not yet voted, the polls are open on Election Day. Primary runoff elections follow on May 26 and will decide nominees where no candidate won a majority in the March primaries; early voting runs May 18–22. Both elections will almost certainly see very low turnout, which means your vote carries more weight than in almost any other contest on the calendar.
Low turnout in local elections should not be discouraging — it is an invitation for all voters to wield their influence. Two elections. May 2 and May 26. We hope you’ll be there.
Our hope is that turnout 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 democracy we value.
To find out what is on your ballot, locate your polling place, or check your registration status, visit your county election department’s website or VoteTexas.gov. For more information about our work, visit our website at lwvsouthcentraltx.org or email us at lwvsouthcentraltx@ gmail.com.
The League of Women Voters South Central Texas serves Colorado, De-Witt, Fayette, Gonzales, and Lavaca counties. Data in this article is drawn from the Texas Secretary of State, local elections offices, and U.S. Census Bureau population estimates.
