Last Day of Early Voting: Final Push Before Election Day

As we enter the final hours of early voting in Texas, more than 7.5 million voters have already cast their ballots, marking another historic election cycle in the Lone Star State. While this represents impressive participation by Texas's standards, with about 40% of registered voters having made their voices heard, turnout is tracking slightly below 2020's record-setting pace. In 2020, 9.7 million Texans voted early, with 11.3 million ultimately voting for a 67% turnout rate.

This election is taking place against a backdrop of significant growth in Texas's electorate. The state has reached a remarkable milestone of 18.6 million registered voters, adding 1.7 million new voters since 2020. This surge in registration reflects both Texas's population growth and increased political engagement, though the state still faces significant challenges in voter participation and access.

While early voting patterns show stronger Republican turnout compared to 2020, experts caution against reading too much into these numbers. Direct comparisons are not reliable due to the unique circumstances of that election, as pandemic concerns and then-President Donald Trump's criticism of early voting significantly impacted voting patterns.

According to analysis from Ryan Data & Research of the first nine days of early voting, 33% of early voters have a Republican primary voting history, while 22% have participated in Democratic primaries. Another third has only voted in general elections, and 10% are first-time voters. However, research shows that voting patterns can shift dramatically in the final days of early voting, with younger voters typically casting ballots closer to Election Day. This could be particularly significant given that voters under 30 currently make up just 11% of early turnout, while those over 50 account for more than 60% of votes cast.

What does the election landscape look like? Recent polling from UT Tyler shows tight races across the state, with Trump leading Vice President Kamala Harris 51% to 46%, and incumbent Sen. Ted Cruz holding a narrow 47% to 45% lead over challenger Rep. Colin Allred. Trump won Texas 52% to 46.5% in 2020 and 52% to 43% in 2016.

The stakes for public education in this election cannot be overstated, with the outcomes of several competitive Texas House races having a particularly profound influence on the future. Republican candidates in these races have dramatically outraised their Democratic opponents in the final weeks of the election, bringing in over $11 million compared to Democrats' $3.5 million, much of it from dark money groups advocating for taxpayer-funded private school vouchers.

This funding disparity is particularly concerning given recent battles in the Texas Legislature. Last year's regular session and subsequent special sessions saw relentless attacks on preK-12 education, including multiple attempts to pass a voucher scam that would drain resources from public education. At stake are not just vouchers, but also public education funding, educator pay and benefits, academic freedom, and classroom censorship.

In higher education, right-wing politicians have promised to escalate their attacks on academic freedom, tenure, and shared governance. The next legislative session could bring even more aggressive attempts to dismantle public education if pro-public education candidates do not prevail in competitive districts.

These state-level threats are amplified by national initiatives like Project 2025, a 992-page plan developed by the Heritage Foundation and ideologues with deep ties to Trump's inner circle. This radical agenda would dismantle the Department of Education entirely, convert vital Title I funding into no-strings-attached block grants, and eliminate crucial federal oversight of educational equity. The plan calls for massive expansion of private school vouchers and "education savings accounts" that would drain resources from public schools, while simultaneously attacking school meal programs that serve millions of Texas students. For higher education, it would end student loan forgiveness and restrict academic freedom on campuses. These changes would be especially harmful to first-generation college students and historically underserved communities. Beyond education, Project 2025 specifically targets educators' unions, threatening to rescind the National Education Association's congressional charter and weaken educators' collective bargaining power and ability to advocate for their students.

These policy battles are playing out against a backdrop of continuing voter access challenges in Texas. The state remains one of only eight without universal online voter registration, and recent investigations have uncovered concerning cases of eligible voters being incorrectly removed from rolls. Problems persist particularly with registrations initiated through the Department of Public Safety, highlighting the need to modernize the state's voting infrastructure. In some cases, eligible voters have been forced to cast provisional ballots or been wrongly purged from voter rolls, emphasizing the importance of checking your registration status before heading to the polls.

These policy battles are playing out against a backdrop of systematic voter suppression in Texas, where Attorney General Ken Paxton has waged a years-long campaign targeting voters in large counties and racial and ethnic minorities. The state remains one of only eight without universal online voter registration and recent investigations have uncovered concerning cases of eligible voters being incorrectly removed from voter rolls. Problems persist particularly with registrations initiated through the Department of Public Safety, highlighting the need for modernization of the state's voting infrastructure. In some cases, eligible voters have been forced to cast provisional ballots or been wrongly purged from voter rolls, emphasizing the importance of checking your registration status before heading to the polls.

Time is running short, but there's still an opportunity to participate in early voting, which continues through Friday, Nov. 1, at 7 p.m.. Anyone in line by closing time will be allowed to vote. After that, voters will need to wait until Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5 to cast their ballots. Early voting locations often have shorter wait times than Election Day polling places, so voters are encouraged to cast their ballots before the Friday deadline if possible.

Whether you plan to vote in these final days of early voting or on Election Day, preparation is key. Before you vote:

Remember: your vote matters. For educators, school employees, and the communities we serve, this election will shape the future of public education in Texas for years to come. Every vote carries significant weight in determining whether our public schools will be strengthened or undermined by the policies ahead.

Together, let us vote for pro-public education and pro-educator candidates who will work together with us to ensure that our public schools receive the resources and support necessary for students, educators, and school employees to thrive.

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