Early voting is breaking records in Texas’ 10 biggest counties
Editor's note: Correction appended.
Multiple Texas counties reported record-breaking turnout figures on the first day of early voting Monday, according to news outlets across the Lone Star State.
Some counties saw as much as double the number of votes cast Monday compared to the first day of early voting in the 2012 presidential election year. Many also saw significant increases from the first day of early voting in 2008.
Here's a quick roundup of turnout figures from some of Texas' most populous counties:
- In Harris County, 67,471 votes were cast, compared to 47,093 votes in 2012.
- More than 58,000 votes were cast in Dallas County compared to 32,512 votes in 2012.
- More than 43,000 votes were cast in Tarrant County compared to 30,133 votes in 2012
- In Bexar County, 35,427 votes were cast compared to 30,087 votes in 2012.
- In Travis County, 35,066 votes were cast compared to 16,378 votes in 2012.
- More than 30,000 votes were cast Collin County compared to 16,531 votes in 2012.
- More than 10,000 votes were cast in El Paso County compared to 8,243 votes in 2012.
- In Hidalgo County, 23,458 votes were cast compared to 11,977 votes in 2012.
- In Denton County, 16,955 votes were cast compared to 12,300 votes in 2012.
- In Fort Bend County, 18,182 votes were cast compared to 13,264 votes in 2012.
On Monday, The Texas Tribune reported that voters were seeing unusually long lines for early voting. Amanda Stephens of Corpus Christi said she was told the wait to vote was two and a half hours. Others said on Twitter that they were able to vote quickly.
Early voting continues through Nov. 4. Election Day is Nov. 8
Did you have any trouble voting? Text us your experience by joining the ElectionLand project. We'll check in to find out how long it took you to vote and whether you had or saw any problems. Sign up now by texting TEXAS VOTES to 69866.
Here’s what you need to know about voting in Texas this year:
- Get election stats for your county.
- What Texans need to know about voter ID.
- What are the rules for Texas poll watchers? We explain.
- The voting-age population figure being used by the Texas secretary of state's office to calculate registration and turnout percentages may be off the mark.
- A record 15.1 million Texans have registered to vote in the November election — a number that eclipses the preliminary estimate by more than 85,000.
- Texas ranked eighth-to-last in voter turnout for the presidential primaries.
Correction: An earlier version of this story included incorrect dates for early voting and Election Day.
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