SD6 special: Over 1K people voted today in person and mostly by mail, bringing the four-day total to just over 4K, corresponding to about 1.3% turnout. Eight days of early voting remain before the December 11 election.
Despite the very low participation rate so far, an increasing prevalence of mail-in ballots are likely to lift this special election over the one in January 2013, when just over 16K voted. It was the fewest votes cast in a special election for a Senate seat since at least 1996 (and likely much longer).
So far, ballot-by-mail voters represent more than 70% of votes cast in this year’s special election. Almost 9K more mail ballots have not yet been returned. In that 2013 special election, mail ballots accounted for just 20% of all votes. However, in 2013, more than 5K people voted early in person, averaging 445 per day. Through four days, the in-person daily average is 305, and the number of in-person early voters has exceeded 300 just once.
Votes Cast in Senate Special Elections Since 1996
223,295 – SD17 special (November 2008*)
148,335 – SD28 special (November 1996*)
144,752 – SD17 special (November 2002*), won outright
95,115 – SD19 special (November 2006*), won outright
89,540 – SD1 runoff (February 2004)
73,196 – SD31 runoff (February 2004)
69,415 – SD31 special (January 2004)
69,206 – SD1 special (January 2004)
59,327 – SD26 special (November 1999), runoff opponent withdrew
57,175 – SD28 runoff (December 1996)
44,697 – SD19 runoff (September 2018)
43,673 – SD17 runoff (December 2008)
42,816 – SD28 special (September 2014), won outright
39,352 – SD18 special (December 2014), won outright
38,307 – SD5 special (January 1997), won outright
35,731 – SD30 special (November 2001)
30,348 – SD4 special (May 2014)
29,851 – SD22 special (May 2010)
26,207 – SD19 special (July 2018)
24,557 – SD22 runoff (June 2010)
24,452 – SD30 runoff (December 2001)
23,526 – SD26 runoff (February 2015)
22,605 – SD4 runoff (August 2014)
19,019 – SD26 special (January 2015)
18,141 – SD6 runoff (March 2013)
16,269 – SD6 special (January 2013)
* Indicates the special election coincided with an even-year November general election.
State Canvass: Gov. Greg Abbott (R) will canvass the results for the November 6 general election on December 3 at 9:25 a.m.
HD108: A recount confirmed Rep. Morgan Meyer’s (R-Dallas) 220-vote victory over Democratic challenger Joanna Cattanch.
RGA Chair: The Republican Governors Assoc. named Gov. Greg Abbott (R) as its vice chair.
Dallas: Former City Attorney Larry Casto made his candidacy for mayor official. He is the third candidate to announce for the race, joining businessman and former Dallas Housing Authority chair Albert Black Jr. and former Hillary Clinton campaign fundraiser Regina Montoya.
©2018 Texas Election Source LLC
