Turnout Report: A new report by the U.S. Elections Project (PDF) and Nonprofit VOTE found that states with same-day registration had higher turnout for the 2018 general election than states that have a registration deadline prior to the election. Fifteen states currently allow voters with a valid identification to register or update registrations on the day they vote, and two others permit same-day registration during early voting only. Average turnout in those states was 56%, seven points above the average for all other states.
- Seven of the 10 states with the highest turnout have same-day voter registration.
- Eight of the 10 states with the lowest turnout, including Texas, have a registration deadline four weeks prior to the election.
- Just one of the 17 states with same-day voter registration ranked lower than 34th in turnout (Hawai’I ranked 50th.).
- 13 of the 16 states with the lowest turnout have a four-week registration deadline
The impact of higher turnout with same-day registration is higher among voters under age 35, according to an analysis of California’s same-day registrations cited by the report.
Texas ranked 41st in turnout, measured as the percent of voting-eligible adults casting ballots, in 2018, up from 50th in 2014.
PRES: Former U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-El Paso) announced he raised more than $6.1M in online contributions within the first 24 hours of his presidential announcement. This is more than any other presidential candidate who has announced 24-hour figures, edging out the $5.9M raised by Bernie Sanders earlier this year.
CD32: Chandler paralegal and grassroots activist Tania Burgess established a campaign committee for a potential challenge of U.S. Rep. Colin Allred (D-Dallas) as a Republican.
Denton: D3 council candidate Diana Leggett filed a complaint with the city secretary seeking to have opponent Jesse Davis declared ineligible. Leggett claims Davis did not put his home address on his application for the ballot. Davis said the city secretary’s office redacted his address from the version of his application posted online. Even if Davis were declared ineligible, his name must remain on the ballot. Incumbent Don Duff is not seeking re-election.
©2019 Texas Election Source LLC
