So, you know how November's general elections feel like forever away? Well, believe it or not, the 2026 political races are already heating up in Texas. Candidates are out there, running ads and asking for donations, getting ready for the crucial party primaries. Early voting for these Texas primaries kicks off on February 17th. That's really soon. Millions of Texans, over 18 million to be exact, get to pick who represents their party on the ballot later this year. But here's the kicker: hardly anyone shows up. Historically, only a small fraction of registered voters actually cast a ballot in these primaries. Think about the last midterm in 2022; only about 3 million Texans voted. That's just 17% of eligible voters. Seventeen percent! This isn't just a political oddity; it has some real legal and public policy muscle behind it. When so few people vote, it means a small, often very dedicated group, is effectively picking our general election candidates. Joyce LeBombard, who heads up the League of Women Voters of Texas, says it's partly because people are just too busy. Life happens. But she also thinks many folks just don't get how much these early votes matter. So, who *is* showing up? Brent Boyea, an American politics expert at UT Arlington, points to the most politically active voters: the super conservative Republicans and the very progressive Democrats. These are the people who are involved year-round, pushing their views. When they dominate the primary polls, they're essentially ensuring that candidates who reflect their specific views make it to the general election. This leads to a real problem: the people who win primaries might not represent what most Texans want. Boyea says the typical voter is usually more moderate, often not even strongly identifying with either major party. But if they're not voting in the primary, they don't get a say in who makes the cut. What's more, LeBombard also flags how heavily gerrymandered Texas districts are. This redraws voting maps in ways that often make general elections a foregone conclusion. Many races are decided right then and there, during the primaries, before most people even pay attention. This raises serious questions about fair representation and voter influence, touching on fundamental constitutional principles of a representative government. Bottom line: if you sit out the March primaries, you might be giving up your only real chance to pick who represents you. Your vote determines the field, not just the winner.