Texas among least politically-engaged states in the country, Wallethub study says

PHOTOS: Why Texas sucks at politics A new Wallethub survey ranked Texas among the states with the lowest political engagement in the country. >>> See more reasons why Texas is behind the curve during election season less PHOTOS: Why Texas sucks at politics A new Wallethub survey ranked Texas among the states with the lowest political engagement in the country. >>> See more reasons why Texas is behind the curve ... more Photo: Mark Mulligan /Houston Chronicle Photo: Mark Mulligan /Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 17 Caption Close Texas among least politically-engaged states in the country, Wallethub study says 1 / 17 Back to Gallery

Political candidates who are trying to grab the youth vote in Texas may want to temper expectations ahead of the midterm elections, as the state remains one of the least-politically engaged in the country, according to a new Wallethub survey.

VOTER TURNOUT: Voter turnout in Texas is dead last in America, study finds

It's no secret that Texas has low voter turnout compared to other states, especially during midterm elections. A Washington post study published last month found that only about one in three Texas voters show up to the polls during midterms -- the lowest mark among states with voting representation in Congress.

The Wallethub survey ranked Texas 41 out of 50 states (plus the District of Columbia) when it came to political engagement. The rankings were determined by the number of registered voters in the 2016 Presidential Election, the percentage of people who actually voted, political contributions among the adult population and several other factors.

The report noted that the U.S. ranks 26 out of 32 when it comes to overall voter turnout.

"Large proportions of the public fail even simple knowledge tests such as knowing whether one's state requires identification in order to vote," according to the survey.

THE REALITY: Despite rampant voter enthusiasm, many don't plan to vote in November

Texas ranked in the bottom five when it came to the state's percentage of registered voters in the 2016 presidential election, as well as the percentage of the electorate who voted in the 2014 midterm elections and the 2016 presidential election.

The state also recorded one of the lowest percentages of politically-engaged young voters (31.9 percent). Texas ranked slightly better when it came to the percentage of engaged voters older than 65 (69 percent.)

According to the Texas Tribune, the state's historically poor voter turnout is usually chalked up to voter suppression efforts, non-competitive races and an unmotivated electorate. But the young age of Hispanics and the percentage of the voting population who aren't citizens likely plays a role, the Tribune reported.

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Julian Gill is a digital reporter in Houston. Read him on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and on our subscriber site, houstonchronicle.com. | julian.gill@chron.com | Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message