Voter turnout in Texas has been a major issue for many years, and Fort Worth is no exception. Emily Farris, a political science professor at Texas Christian University, has conducted research on the local elections and concluded that the low voter turnout in Fort Worth is a systemic problem. She has proposed that the city consider changing when elections are held in an even-numbered year, when people are more likely to think about voting. To this end, Farris has created business cards with a code that people can scan to get all the information they need to vote. The 6th congressional district of Texas includes only 9% of Fort Worth, according to legislative data from Texas.
To alter when the City Council elections are held, Fort Worth would need to modify its statutes, which requires voter approval. The director of César Chávez's Local Committee has not had much political influence in his community, which represents 35 percent of the population of Fort Worth. He believes that the next round of redistricting could pave the way for this change, but the Fort Worth City Council chose not to allow an independent committee to redesign the city's districts. It is evident that public opinion on key voter turnout reforms in Fort Worth, Texas has shifted over time. The city has taken steps to make it easier for people to vote by creating business cards with a code that people can scan to get all the information they need.
Nevertheless, there is still much work to be done in order to increase voter turnout in Fort Worth. Redistricting could be a key factor in this process, but it will require the approval of voters and the cooperation of the City Council.
