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Bruce Elfant says U.S. voter turnout about 100th among industrialized nations; Texas not high either

Bruce Elfant, Travis County's tax assessor-collector, said the U.S. ranks about 100th among industrialized nations in voter turnout and Texas lags among states as well. MOSTLY TRUE, we found. (Travis County photo). Bruce Elfant, Travis County's tax assessor-collector, said the U.S. ranks about 100th among industrialized nations in voter turnout and Texas lags among states as well. MOSTLY TRUE, we found. (Travis County photo).

Bruce Elfant, Travis County's tax assessor-collector, said the U.S. ranks about 100th among industrialized nations in voter turnout and Texas lags among states as well. MOSTLY TRUE, we found. (Travis County photo).

By W. Gardner Selby August 25, 2015

A Travis County official declared the United States and Texas lag far behind other countries and states in voting.

On Aug. 5, 2015, Democrat Bruce Elfant, the Travis County tax assessor-collector, was interviewed by Dick Ellis of the KOKE-FM Austin Radio Network about the 50th anniversary of President Lyndon B. Johnson signing the Voting Rights Act.

Johnson, Elfant said, "would be very disappointed by the number of Americans who choose to use that right. The United States is about 100th in voter turnout among the industrialized nations and Texas is near the bottom in terms of voter registration and voter turnout," he said.

We previously found merit to a claim that Texas had the nation’s worst voter turnout in 2014, though we noted voter statistics weren’t yet final. So, does Texas rank near the bottom nationally in voter registration and turnout? And is U.S. turnout about 100th among industrialized nations?

Texas, you bet. The U.S. too, we found, except Elfant should have said among most nations rather than limiting his focus to the 30-something developed countries.

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Bruce Elfant says U.S. voter turnout about 100th among industrialized nations; Texas not high either