Today was the first day to vote early in person for the March 1 primary election. Based on information gleaned from nine of the state’s most populous counties, it appears that Data suggest Republican turnout is on par with the last two election cycles, punctuated with some record turnout levels (Denton and Travis Cos. for sure, with possible new records in Bexar, Hidalgo, Nueces and Tarrant Cos.). There is not enough information to determine whether turnout is in fact coming in at record levels statewide.
Democratic turnout appears to be about half of what it was in 2008 but substantially higher than in 2012 and 2014.
Nine of the state’s largest counties had posted data on their web sites as of 10 p.m. tonight.
Harris Co.: 12,720 Republicans and 9,636 Democrats voted in person today, or their ballots-by-mail (BBM) were received by today. Neither is a record for the first day of early voting. Republican turnout is 5% below the 2012 first-day total but 7% above 2014. Democratic turnout is 4% below the 2008 first-day total but 55% above 2012 and 187% above 2014 turnout.
Dallas Co.: No information was available.
Tarrant Co.: 4,616 Republicans and 2,292 Democrats voted in person today (No BBM information was available.). It could be a first-day record for Republican primary turnout in the county. In-person Republican turnout is more than double (115%) the 2012 first-day total and 52% above 2014. In-person Democratic turnout is 60% below the 2008 first-day total but 188% above of 2012 and 50% above of 2014. Largest in-person turnouts were in HD99 (695 voters), HD92 (687) and HD94 (566), and these three districts comprised 42% of countywide Republican turnout.
Bexar Co.: 2,750 Republicans and 3,368 Democrats voted in person today (No BBM information was available.). It could be a first-day record for Republican primary turnout in the county. In-person Republican turnout is 25% above the 2012 first-day total and 16% above 2014. In-person Democratic turnout is 51% below the 2008 first-day total but 104% above of 2012 and 35% ahead of 2014.
Travis Co.: 2,125 Republicans and 5,265 Democrats voted in person today, or their ballots-by-mail (BBM) were received by today. It is a first-day record for Republican primary turnout in the county. Republican turnout is 25% above the 2012 first-day total and 97% above 2014. Democratic turnout is 21% below the 2008 first-day total but 247% above 2012 and 150% above 2014 turnout.
Collin Co.: No information was available.
El Paso Co.: No information was available.
Denton Co.: Based on voting rosters posted on the county’s web site, it appears that 3,816 Republicans and 997 Democrats voted in person today, or their ballots-by-mail (BBM) were received by today. It is a first-day record for Republican primary turnout in the county. Republican turnout is 76% above the 2012 first-day total and 4% below 2014. Democratic turnout is 46% below the 2008 first-day total but 569% above 2012 and 260% above 2014 turnout.
Fort Bend Co.: 1,913 Republicans and 1,536 Democrats voted in person today, or their ballots-by-mail (BBM) were received by today. Neither is a record for the first day of early voting. Republican turnout is 46% below the 2012 first-day total but 1% below 2014. Democratic turnout is 18% below the 2008 first-day total but 350% above 2012 and 580% above 2014 turnout.
Hidalgo Co.: 636 Republicans and 4,418 Democrats voted in person today (No BBM information was available.). It could be a first-day record for Republican primary turnout in the county. In-person Republican turnout is 68% above the 2012 first-day total and 39% above 2014. In-person Democratic turnout is 24% below the 2008 first-day total and 7% below 2012 but 4% ahead of 2014.
Montgomery Co.: 3,303 Republicans and 502 Democrats voted in person today, or their ballots-by-mail (BBM) were received by today. Neither is a record for the first day of early voting. Republican turnout is 1% above the 2012 first-day total and 7% above 2014. Democratic turnout is 49% below the 2008 first-day total but 325% above 2012 and 235% above 2014 turnout.
Williamson Co.: No information was available.
Galveston Co.: No information was available.
Nueces Co.: 682 Republicans and 859 Democrats voted in person today (No BBM information was available.). It could be a first-day record for Republican primary turnout in the county. In-person Republican turnout is 106% above the 2012 first-day total and 73% above 2014. In-person Democratic turnout is 53% below the 2008 first-day total but 82% above of 2012 and 240% ahead of 2014.
Cameron Co.: No information was available.
