Texas 2026 Early Voting Surpasses Usual Levels in Primaries That Will Determine the Senate and Open State Offices. Read all the details here.
Participation during the period leading up to the March 3 primaries remains above average, according to provisional data from the Secretary of State’s Office.
Early voting in Texas is recording unusual levels in a primary that will define high‑stakes contests for November. According to preliminary figures released by the Texas Secretary of State’s Office, the volume of voters who have already cast their ballots exceeds historical patterns for this type of election.
The early voting period began February 17 and ends February 27. The official primary day will be March 3.
Texas 2026 Early Voting
The rise in early voting in Texas coincides with an unusually competitive mix of races in both parties. Among the most watched is the United States Senate race, which could influence control of the federal chamber.
On the Republican ticket, Senator John Cornyn faces challenges from Attorney General Ken Paxton and U.S. Representative Wesley Hunt. In the Democratic primary, State Representative James Talarico competes with U.S. Representative Jasmine Crockett for the nomination to contest the seat Cornyn has held since 2002.
According to the Houston Chronicle’s daily tracking, the turnout surge has been driven especially by Democratic voters. Both primaries have drawn national attention and a heavy investment in political advertising in recent weeks, a factor that, according to the Chronicle’s analysis, has contributed to heightened electoral enthusiasm.
Statewide Positions Open for the First Time in More Than a Decade
Another element explaining the rise in Texas early voting is the existence of statewide positions without incumbents for the first time in years.
Ken Paxton’s bid for the Senate left the Office of the Attorney General vacant, something that hadn’t happened since 2014. That contest generated competition in both parties.
The Texas Comptroller’s post also opened after Glenn Hegar took the helm of the Texas A&M University System. The person who wins in November will oversee the new state school voucher program.
In the Republican primary for Agriculture Commissioner, the current titleholder Sid Miller faces a challenge from Nate Sheetz, who has the backing of Governor Greg Abbott.
The simultaneous presence of these unfilled races has increased interest in primaries that, in other cycles, tend to show lower turnout.
How Turnout in Texas Early Voting is Measured
The Texas Secretary of State’s Office consolidates daily the data submitted by counties and publishes a report with the cumulative percentage of early voting. The figure includes both mail ballots and in-person votes during the early voting period, split among the total registered voters in each county.
Texas has 18.7 million registered voters.
The data are provisional and may change as counties update their reports. The Houston Chronicle collects the information three times a day, in the morning, at noon, and in the afternoon, to reflect the most recent totals.
In 2018, daily reports were available only for the 15 largest counties. In 2022 and 2026, the information includes all counties. This year, the early voting period lasts 11 days instead of 12 because Presidents’ Day fell on the election calendar.
Comparison with Earlier Cycles
Historically, Texas primaries have recorded low turnout, even when they determine the candidates who later win in November, particularly in a state where the Republican Party has dominated in recent cycles.
In 2024, fewer people voted in primaries than in the previous presidential cycle, despite the state adding nearly 2 million new registered voters during that period.
The map created by the Houston Chronicle shows which counties exceed the turnout pace observed in 2022. Counties marked in teal show a higher share of voters in 2026 compared to the same point on the 2022 calendar. Those marked in yellow reflect a smaller share.
What Comes Next Before March 3
Early voting ends February 27 and the official primary day is March 3. The results will determine the nominations that will compete in November, in elections considered high-impact at both state and federal levels.
The behavior of early voting in Texas will serve as an indicator of the level of voter mobilization ahead of the fall general elections. Although the figures are provisional, the volume recorded so far points to an electorate attentive to contests that could influence the state’s political landscape.
