Texas Southern University Students Report High Engagement and Participation in 2024 Presidential Election

Posted on Monday, May 19, 2025

A new report by the Barbara Jordan Public Policy Research and Survey Center at Texas Southern University examines the involvement of Texas Southern University (TSU) students in the November 2024 election process, including how and where they voted, the quality of their voting experience, the extent to which they were contacted by partisan and non-partisan groups, their involvement in election-related activities on the TSU campus, and the impact of the Beyoncé headlined rally for Kamala Harris on their decision to turn out to vote.

More than three-fifths (62%) of TSU students who are registered to vote in Harris County and voted in-person in the November 2024 election choose to cast their ballot on campus at the TSU Campus Recreation Center. Almost four-fifths (79%) of TSU students who are registered to vote in Texas and voted in-person used a Texas Driver’s License as their proof of identification, while 13% used a Texas Personal Identification Card, 6% another form of photo ID, and 2% an alternative, non-photo, form of identification.

TSU students had a very positive experience voting in the November 2024 election with 59% rating their voting experience as excellent and another 35% as good, with 0% having what they would describe as a poor voting experience.

TSU students also reported a high degree of contact by partisan and non-partisan groups and TSU affiliated groups and organizations encouraging them to turn out to vote. Dr. Michael O. Adams, the founding director of the Barbara Jordan Public Policy Research and Survey Center at Texas Southern University, noted that “two-thirds of TSU students report having been contacted by a political candidate or campaign last fall” and that “more than half report some type of contact with a TSU-affiliated group that was endeavoring to get them involved in the election process.”

A recent Barbara Jordan Public Policy Research and Survey Center report found that the October 25, 2024 campaign rally headlined by Beyoncé did not have a discernible impact on the likelihood of Harris County registered voters turning out to vote in the November 2024 election. And, while two-thirds (69%) of TSU students said the rally had no impact on their likelihood of voting, more than one-quarter (28%) said that the rally increased the likelihood they would vote.

Among other findings:

• The most common reason given by TSU students who are registered to vote for why they did not vote in the November 2024 presidential election was that they were too busy (24% listed this as a major reason).
• The most common reason given by TSU students who are not registered to vote for why they are not registered to vote was they are not eligible (44% listed this is a major reason), followed by 28% who said they wanted to register to vote but missed the deadline.
• 76% of TSU students identify as Democrats, 10% as Independents and 7% as Republicans.

The full report can be found via this link. A total of 425 TSU students were surveyed between March 19 and April 4, 2025, yielding a population that is broadly representative of the TSU student body.

 

Category: Faculty & Staff, News Media, Students, Alumni