Texas sees 5% rise in voter registrations since 2022; Harris County added 200,000 voters since 2020, the highest increase statewide
Dallas, Texas – Texas has broken past voter registration records in an amazing show of civic involvement as it gets ready for the November 5, 2024 election. The most recent numbers published by Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson show an extraordinary 18,613,931 Texans registered to vote—a notable rise of 5% from November 2022, when the count was 17,656,143. This increase in registrations is a potent message about the changing democratic terrain in Texas, not only a statistic. The flood of almost 200,000 new voters in the two weeks before the registration deadline highlights a more political knowledge and involvement that might change the results of the state elections.
County-based breakdown of voter registration shows that metropolitan areas have experienced most significant rise. With 1,467,410 registered voters, Dallas County leads in North Texas; followed by Tarrant County with 1,309,456; Collin County with 748,252; Denton County with 661,565; Ellis County with 521,945.
Since the last presidential contest in 2020, no county has had a greater increase in voter registration than Harris County. According to Houston Chronicle, about 200,000 people have been added to the roles since 2020. With 106,000 registered voters, Bexar County came second in quickest growth.
Early voting, scheduled to start on October 21 and run through November 1, aligns with this wave of voter registration and gives Texans lots of chances to cast their ballots before Election Day.
Young voters turning 18, immigrants from other states, and motivated individuals gathered by different voter outreach campaigns from both political and non-partisan groups represent those who are fueling this registration explosion. These initiatives are especially important in a state where political stakes have skyrocketed; the 2020 presidential contest had the smallest margin in Texas in almost three decades, with then-President Donald Trump winning the state by just 5.6% points.
Governor Greg Abbott has underlined the state’s will to preserve the integrity of its voter register. He passed laws in 2021 extending the frequency of checks against Texas Department of Public Safety records to identify noncitizens. Though this method also raises questions regarding possible disenfranchisement, some voters—including over 6,500 who did not respond to verifications of their legal status—have been removed.
Recent updates from the Secretary of State’s office in September also revealed the elimination of almost 12,000 dead voters, 200 felons, and three confirmed noncitizens from the voting rolls, so demonstrating a strict policy to guarantee that only qualified citizens engage in the voting process.
Texas keeps adding votes at a pace faster than its population increase in spite of these tight policies. The state’s population grew by roughly 1.6% since 2020; voter rolls have expanded by almost 10%. This tendency shows not just the fast-growing population of the state but also a strong participation in the democratic process.
The increase in voter registrations points to a strong democratic attitude as Texas gets ready for what might be one of its most closely watched elections. It shows that individuals are ready to have their opinions heard, so the forthcoming election is especially important for the Lone Star State.
