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Voter turnout in Dallas County’s May municipal elections continues to hover in the single digits, and in cities like Addison, Farmers Branch and Carrollton, that translates into a small group of voters holding outsized influence over local government.
In 2024, just 83,030 ballots were cast out of more than 1.43 million registered voters, a turnout of 5.8%. Turnout rose in 2025 to about 117,844 ballots, roughly 8.4%.
In 2026, turnout percentage ticked up again, but the number of registered voters dropped. Dallas County reported 87,776 ballots cast out of more than 1.01 million registered voters, a turnout of 8.68%.
Despite the shifts, the pattern holds: consistently low engagement in May elections.
“Far too many people simply don’t understand civics,” Diane Tasian, director of volunteers for the League of Women Voters of Dallas, wrote in an email. She pointed to gaps in education, saying “so much of the state education system does not support civics education and critical thinking.”
Tasian said many voters focus on November, not May. Less money and campaigning in municipal races means “less drama” and lower awareness. She added that apathy, districting, social media and declining newspaper audiences all play a role.
In Carrollton, even a typical year shows how few voters decide outcomes. Only 2–3% of the city’s Dallas County residents vote, despite 60–65% of the population living in the county, about 1 in 40 residents.
In 2026:
• Mayor’s race: 2,198 votes
• Council Place 4: 2,182 votes
Even with a mayoral race, participation remained limited. For comparison, Standridge Stadium seats about 13,000.
Farmers Branch saw stronger turnout due to a competitive mayor’s race:
• Mayor’s race: 3,652 votes
• District 2: 855 votes
Still, that represents only a small share of eligible voters. No mayoral candidate reached 50%, sending the race to a runoff.
Addison followed a similar pattern, higher turnout where there’s competition, lower where there’s not.
• Council race (three seats): 4,573 votes
• Propositions: just over 2,000 votes each
The drop-off shows many voters don’t complete the full ballot. The DART membership proposition likely boosted turnout due to active campaigning.
Across all three cities:
• Council races: 800–2,500 votes
• Citywide races: 2,000–3,500 votes
• Propositions: often lower
Even in stronger years, turnout rarely escapes single digits countywide.
Low turnout is one reason the City of Dallas moved its municipal elections to November, starting in 2027. Dallas College and Mesquite have done the same, Mesquite in 2019.
“When they moved their races to November their turnout doubled,” Tasian wrote.
However, moving municipal elections isn’t an easy process and involves the state legislature.
Mike McGinnis, chair of Branch Vision, said turnout often comes down to engagement.
“There's nothing about city governments that stir people's emotions enough to activate them,” he said. “They don't have any emotional stake in how many parks there are or what other people's houses look like.”
Ellen Steger, president of the League of Women Voters of Richardson, said confusion about the voting process is another issue.
“The chaos on March 3… showed that voters do not pay attention,” she wrote, noting many ignored guidance about vote centers and went “where they have always voted.”
She urged voters to check locations each election, as sites can change or close.
Steger also pointed to partisanship and information gaps.
“Local elections are nonpartisan. However, we live in a very partisan world,” she wrote. Many voters ask what party candidates belong to or don’t know where to find information.
She said long ballots can overwhelm voters, Richardson had 57 items on May 2, and added, “Just vote for one race, if that's all you feel comfortable doing.”
She also reminded voters they can ask for help from judges and bring notes, though phones are not allowed in polling places.
For Addison, Farmers Branch and Carrollton, the takeaway remains the same: A few hundred votes can decide a council seat. A few thousand can shape city policy. Sometimes, a handful determines who holds office.
Tasian said increasing turnout will take more candidate forums, broader outreach and potentially moving elections to November.
Elaine Campbell, vice president of voter services for the League of Women Voters – Dallas, said registering voters isn’t the problem. “Getting them to the polls is the problem. Getting them to the polls for municipal elections is the bigger problem.”
She said every community has different reasons for low turnout. For some, it’s not knowing where to go, even though, in most elections, Dallas County residents can vote at any voting center. The March 3 primary where voters were required to vote at only their precints was an exception and won’t be repeated at the May 26 primary runoff.
Campbell said election fatigue is a serious issue in Texas, one of the most difficult states to vote in. In 2026, there was the primary election March 3, the municipal election May 2, the primary runoff May 26 and the municipal runoff will be June 13. Farmers Branch will participate in the runoff; Addison and Carrollton will not.
“People are just sick of it,” she said, noting turnout drops with each election.
Campbell said voters ages 18–29 are less likely to vote, often because they are renters and don’t see how municipal elections affect them. She added that some Latino and Asian voters also don’t fully understand municipal elections.
She said candidate forums are key and should be offered in multiple languages. “We’re not doing that enough … that’s something we [the League of Women Voters] need to fix right away.”
Campbell recommended forums be held at different times and in familiar places, such as breweries, restaurants and parks in Addison; and churches, community centers and schools in Farmers Branch and Carrollton.
“In-person discussions is what really gets people to the polls,” she said.
Campbell also suggested a simple step: go vote with friends. Meet at the polls, then go to lunch. “Make it a fun thing.”
Until something changes, May elections will continue to be decided by a small, consistent group of voters, and local government will be shaped by who shows up.
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