6 Texas Voting Myths, Debunked

Every election cycle, a fresh wave of misinformation sweeps through Texas — on social media, in group chats, and sometimes even on the news. These myths don’t just spread confusion. They actively discourage people from voting. As we approach the Texas primary election on March 3, let’s set the record straight on six of the most persistent voting myths in the Lone Star State.

Myth #1: Noncitizens Are Registering to Vote in Huge Numbers

This one refuses to die. In 2024, claims spread widely that over a million Texans had registered to vote without a photo ID, implying a massive wave of noncitizen registrations. Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson shot that down directly, clarifying that the voter roll had grown by just 57,711 people since the start of 2024. That’s fewer than in comparable periods in 2022 or 2020. 

Even the Heritage Foundation’s own voter fraud database (not exactly a source sympathetic to downplaying election concerns) documented only three confirmed cases of noncitizen voting in Texas since 2012. Three. In over a decade.

Myth #2: My Party Never Wins in My District, So There’s No Point in Voting in the Primaries 

This might be the most quietly damaging myth of all.

A primary isn’t your party versus the other party. It’s your party choosing its candidate. When one party dominates a district so thoroughly that the general election is essentially predetermined, the primary is the real election.

And even if you’re in the minority party in your district, the primary still matters. Primary voters shape the quality and character of their party’s representation, which affects recruitment, fundraising, and long-term party-building in ways that go beyond any single race.

The primary ballot is also about far more than the top of the ticket. County judges, school board members, sheriffs, district attorneys — these down-ballot races affect your daily life in concrete ways, and they’re decided in primaries with razor-thin margins. Sitting out because your party can’t win the congressional seat means abandoning every one of those races, too.

Myth #3: I Can’t Vote in the Texas Primaries Because I’m Not Registered With a Political Party 

Texas has open primaries. You don’t have to register with a party ahead of time. On Election Day, you simply choose which party’s primary you want to vote in — and you can only vote in one.

That’s it.

You don’t have to be a party insider. You don’t have to donate money. You don’t have to attend rallies.

Primaries aren’t just for the loudest voices. They’re for everyday Texans who want a say in which direction their party — and their district — goes.

Myth #4: If You Have a Felony, You Can Never Vote Again

Many Texans with past convictions believe they’ve permanently lost their right to vote. That’s simply not true. In Texas, individuals with felony convictions can have their voting rights restored once they have fully completed their sentence — including any parole or probation.

This misconception keeps a significant number of eligible voters away from the polls. If you’ve served your time and are no longer under supervision, check your status and re-register. Your vote counts.

Myth #5: College Students Must Vote Where Their Parents Live

This myth trips up tens of thousands of Texas college students every election. The reality? You have a choice. Texas law allows students to register and vote using either their home address or their campus address. You do not have to return to your hometown or request an absentee ballot just because you moved away for school.

If you’re living in Austin, Lubbock, or Denton for college, you can register right there and vote on local issues that directly affect your daily life, like city council decisions, transit, and campus-adjacent policies.

Myth #6: Only Presidential Elections Really Matter

It’s easy to focus all your civic energy on the presidential race every four years, but local and state elections often have a more immediate and direct impact on your daily life. School board decisions, property taxes, county judges, district attorneys, sheriffs — all of these are decided in elections that receive a fraction of the attention (and voter turnout) of a presidential contest.

In Texas, primary and local elections routinely see turnout in the single digits. That means a small, motivated group of voters can — and does — shape policy for everyone. Skipping “minor” elections is one of the most significant things you can do to give up your influence.

The Bottom Line

Misinformation about voting isn’t a minor nuisance. It’s a genuine threat to democratic participation. Whether the myths spread out of confusion or bad faith, the effect is the same: fewer people vote, and fewer voices are heard. Texas has millions of eligible voters who sit out every election — especially in the primaries — and myths like these are part of the reason why.

Know the facts. Show up. Vote.

— Alex Buscemi (abuscemi@buildersmovement.org)

Art by Matthew Lewis

Learn more about the Texas primaries on March 3 — and how to get your friends, family, and community to the polls — by downloading our voter guide right here.