Note to self: Vote in May 26 runoff election

All registered Texans are eligible to vote in the Runoff Election — even if they didn’t vote in the March Primaries.”

The March 2026 Primary Elections in Texas were heralded for their “historic” voter turnout, with media outlets writing that voters “smashed” recent midterm Primary turnout numbers. As a government major, these kinds of attention-grabbing headlines are exciting. The people are voting! The system is working! Democracy at its finest!

How many of Texas’ 18,657,918 registered voters voted, thus smashing previous March Primary turnout records? 4,486,097 Texans voted in the March Primaries. That’s only 24% of registered voters! Is this really something we should be celebrating?

As leaders in our communities, bankers have a real opportunity to make a difference at the ballot box. With over 230,000 bankers across the state, our personal and professional networks stretch far and wide. Imagine the impact we would have if each of us took four voters with us to the polls — that would yield more than 1.1 million votes! What if we encouraged our families and friends to do the same? That would be something worth celebrating! Bankers can move the electoral needle if we’re intentional about doing so. The question is, are we up for the challenge?

My unequivocal answer is YES, and luckily, with the March Primaries still fresh in mind, we have the opportunity to let our voices be heard in the May 26 Runoff Elections. That’s right, the Runoff Election Day is Tuesday, May 26. (Note to self: Calendar May 26 Runoff Election!)

All registered Texans are eligible to vote in the Runoff Election — even if they didn’t vote in the March Primaries. The only limitation is that if an individual voted in the March Republican Primary, that individual can only vote in the Republican Runoff. Same for Democrats. This is great news because it means if you were one of the 14.1 million Texans who forgot to vote in the March Primaries, you have the opportunity to vote in just a few short weeks! 

While the majority of the candidates on the November ballot have been finalized, there are dozens of races across the state that have yet to be decided. These candidates — both federal and state — will vote on issues that impact the way bankers serve their customers, so it should go without saying that bankers must engage in the electoral process to ensure the candidates on their ballots are supportive of our industry. 

Bankers can be force multipliers in increasing awareness of and participation in the May 26 Runoff Election. For years, bank leaders shied away from talking about voting with their staffs. But remember, political activity is different from politics. Absolutely do not talk about politics. Talking about getting involved in the political process is not only permissible, it’s encouraged! In fact, even the IRS recognizes that political activities intended to encourage people to participate in the electoral process, such as voter education, voter registration and GOTV drives are not prohibited political campaign activities. Bankers should feel very comfortable encouraging their co-workers, staff and directors to vote! 

With the end of the school year, graduation, TBA’s 141st Annual Convention and Memorial Day all happening over the course of the next few weeks, life is hectic and calendars are very full. Don’t let the May 26 Runoff Election sneak up on you! Mark your calendars NOW to vote either during the May 18-22 Early Voting Period or on Tuesday, May 26. And, most importantly, encourage your coworkers, boards, staffs, families and friends to do the same. Our votes matter and are voices will be heard if we vote like the future of our industry depends upon it!