Various UT student organizations held political events throughout the summer and fall in preparation for the 2024 U.S. General Election, some aiming to endorse candidates, but most pushing students to register and vote. 

July 2024: President Joe Biden visited the University  to deliver a keynote address at the Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library at its celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act. 

Prior to his address, Biden dropped out of the 2024 presidential race and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris. The event was rescheduled multiple times, first after the attempted assassination of now-President-elect Donald Trump, and then after Biden’s COVID-19 diagnosis.

Travis County confirmed and registered 11,738 voters in July, with the majority using the Department of Public Safety, according to the Travis County Tax Office. 

August 2024: University students returning to campus also learned the polling location in the Flawn Academic Center would be moved to the Texas Union for the 2024 election, sparking mixed reactions from residents. 

Throughout early and Election Day voting, wait times at on-campus polling locations ranged from five minutes to over an hour depending on the day and time voters went. 

Travis County reported 16,540 people confirmed and registered to vote, about a 41% increase from July, according to the Travis County Tax Office. 

September 2024: City and local officials from around the state spoke about the future of local control, diversity, equity and inclusion and housing affordability during the Texas Tribune Festival. Former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney endorsed Rep. Colin Allred over Sen. Ted Cruz for the Texas U.S. Senate race. 

Allred ultimately lost to incumbent Sen. Cruz by nine points, a six-point increase for Cruz since his last election against former Rep. Beto O’Rourke. 

In mid-September, Harris and Trump met for the first time during their first and only Presidential debate. 

Travis County reported around 26,700 newly registered and confirmed voters during September, according to the Travis County Tax office — about a 62% increase from August. 

October 2024: University Democrats hosted Sen. Bernie Sanders, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rep. Greg Casar, Rep. Lloyd Doggett and former Rep. Beto O’Rourke for an “Our Fight Our Future” rally, where over 1,000 students packed Hogg Memorial Auditorium. 

Young Conservatives hosted conservative activist Riley Gaines to discuss the Title IX protections expanded under President Biden. While Gaines did not endorse a candidate, she urged event goers to vote. Sen. Ted Cruz and now-President-elect Donald Trump ran with similar platforms, with a focus on “preventing men in women’s sports.” 

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance faced off in their only vice-presidential debate on Oct. 2. Sen. Cruz and Rep. Allred also met for their first debate. 

Travis County reported around 47,500 people registered to vote in October, around a 78% increase from September. The last day for Texans to register and be able to vote in the 2024 election was Oct. 7. 

From July to October, Travis County saw around 102,500 people confirm and register to vote in total.