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Jorge Trujillo outside of the Memorial Park Senior Citizen Center vote center in El Paso on March 5, 2024.
We the Texans

In El Paso, apathy, alienation and discontent with candidates drives low voter turnout

Across this border city, which sees some of the state’s lowest voter turnout, many residents either didn’t know there was an election in March or had reasons for avoiding the polls.


The notice of total number of voters at the Memorial Park Senior Citizen Center vote center tallied 94 people by 11:30am in El Paso, Texas on March 5, 2024.

Many UTEP students didn’t know about election 

Jess Deluca, a UTEP student, voted for her second time earlier in the day in El Paso, Texas on March 5, 2024.
Anthony Willis Jr., a UTEP student, did not know today was Election Day for the primaries in El Paso, Texas on March 5, 2025.

A protest non-vote for president

Pauleth Elemantis, a UTEP student, did not know today was Election Day for the primaries and has no plans to vote in El Paso, Texas on March 5, 2025.
Rafael Valdes, 20, works in the Basset Place Mall. Valdes missed the voter registration deadline but plans to vote in the next election. People line up behind Valdes to cast their vote in El Paso, Texas on March 5, 2024.
Calvin Zielsdorf in the Basset Place Mall after voting. Zielsdorf only voted for three local candidates so that his vote count is recorded but reflects his disillusionment with the State and National candidates. El Paso, Texas on March 5, 2025.
Omar Jasso canvassing outside of the Gary del Palacio Recreation vote center. Jason has lived in El Paso for three months to work on the Selina Saenz and Nancy Casas campaigns. El Paso, Texas on March 5, 2024.
Students walk into the UTEP Union East building where voting is held. A total of 161 people voted at this location by 2:35pm in El Paso, Texas on March 5, 2024.

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