Every election cycle, people ask me the same question: Why focus on Texas?
The answer is simple: Texas is home to one of the largest, most dynamic Latino electorates in the nation. Making up over 40% of the state’s population, Latinos are a driving force in shaping America’s civic future. Texas is also undergoing rapid demographic expansion, adding more than 950,000 voters between recent election cycles alone. This isn’t just a state to watch — it is a cornerstone of American democracy.
Yet, transforming demographic growth into lasting civic power requires intentional, on-the-ground engagement. Nationwide, 1 in 3 young voters is unregistered. In Texas, that gap is even wider, leaving 3 in 5 young adults off the voter rolls. Young people aren’t sitting out because they lack interest; they are deeply passionate about the issues shaping their lives, from student debt and climate change to good jobs and healthcare. But turning those priorities into policy requires fundamental first steps: registering to vote and establishing a concrete plan to cast a ballot.
Earlier this month, with less than 10 weeks before the election, the Tarrant County Commissioners Court voted to cut 92 polling locations.
Right now, more than 1.2 million Texas voters are sitting on what the state calls a “suspense list,” and in Travis County alone, that represents 16% of eligible voters. Being on that list doesn’t mean you can’t vote, but it does mean the system is putting an extra burden on you to prove you still belong on the rolls — a burden a lot of people don’t even know they’re carrying until they’re standing at the polls.
That is the urgency of this moment. Just earlier this month, with less than 10 weeks before the election, the Tarrant County Commissioners Court voted to cut 92 polling locations.
All this is precisely why the Voto Latino Foundation is partnering with MS NOW on National Voter Registration Day this Tuesday to host a flagship activation at The University of Texas at Austin. On a campus of over 55,000 students, where more than a quarter identify as Hispanic, our student leaders are meeting peers where they are, alongside partners like Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity and Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc. Since launching in April 2024, we have built a network of 288 student leaders across more than 177 campuses and 17 alumni organizations, representing 37 states and Washington, D.C.
That campus footprint is part of a larger, battle-tested engine built specifically to close the gap when it matters most. Look at our track record: During the pandemic alone, we registered over 650,000 voters. Because nobody else was ready. And once voters enter our universe, they stay engaged, maintaining an 82% turnout rate. Together, we are giving young voters the tools to verify their registration, build personalized early-voting plans and make their voices heard.
Following our Austin activation on Sept. 15, we will carry this momentum forward with MS NOW Live: Together in Texas at UT Arlington on Sept. 26, featuring a student art installation originating from UT Austin. This initiative provides a creative space where students can learn about civic engagement, register to vote, train in voter protection and recognize the power of their own voices.
Building habit-forming civic commitment early in life turns occasional voters into lifelong participants in our democracy. When young adults receive the tools, trusted information and confidence to navigate the process, voting becomes an easy task.
Crucially, protecting democracy extends beyond our personal voting plans. It requires an all-hands-on-deck effort to safeguard the ballot box for our entire community. Nonpartisan community members can step up by training as poll workers or observers, attending “Know Your Rights” voter protection workshops, organizing rides to the polls and helping friends and family verify their registration status. When we educate ourselves and protect the voting process, we ensure every eligible neighbor can vote safely and without disruption.
Even as momentum builds, significant barriers to registration and voting remain — and nowhere are those challenges clearer than in Texas.
Texas serves as a critical test of civic accessibility. Ever since Voto Latino co-founded the inaugural National Voter Registration Day in 2012, this holiday has engaged thousands of partners and helped register over 6 million Americans. Yet, even as momentum builds, significant barriers to registration and voting remain — and nowhere are those challenges clearer than in Texas, where strict regulations make nonpartisan organizing harder by design. When participation is intentionally made difficult for young people and Latino communities, the entire state misses out on their energy, perspectives and leadership.
We refuse to leave those voices on the sidelines. National Voter Registration Day serves as a vital reminder that an informed, active public requires real investment, trusted resources and strong community infrastructure. To every young person in Texas and across the country: registering, voting early and standing up for your peers at the ballot box are the most direct ways to shape your future.
To verify your status, check local voting rules, or find election resources, consult official tools such as the Texas Secretary of State Voter Information Portal or our Voto Latino Election Center.
Register today, make your plan to vote early and get trained to protect the vote, and let’s shape the future of our communities together.
The post Why young Latino voters in Texas are worth fighting for appeared first on MS NOW.
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