Early voting in person has ended in Texas. Yesterday’s (Thursday’s) total early votes cast in the 15 counties with the most registered voters crossed the 4M mark for the first time in state history. Through 11 days, early voting turnout is 35% ahead of 2012, 29% ahead of 2008 and 95% ahead of 2004. Same-day turnout was 21% ahead of the corresponding Thursday in 2012 but 8% less than in 2008.
Record turnout had been set by 12 of the 15 counties earlier this week. Nueces and Tarrant Cos. set its record today (Friday), and Dallas Co. was also expected to set a new record.
Nearly 105K people voted in person in Harris Co. on the last day of early voting, bringing the county just short of 980K total early voters (in person and by mail). There are enough mail ballots yet to be returned to push Harris Co. early voting/absentee turnout over the 1M mark for the first time ever. It is unlikely, given recent historical results, but possible.
More than half a million votes have been cast early in Dallas and Tarrant Cos., and Bexar Co. saw its largest single-day in-person turnout on Friday as nearly 47K cast ballots.
Travis Co. reported that more than 50% of registered voters have already cast ballots thanks to a record-setting total of 43K in-person voters on the final day. More people have voted early in Travis Co. in 2016 than in Harris Co. in 2014.
Denton, Montgomery and Williamson Cos. also surpassed the 50% mark on the final day.
We will have to wait until sometime Saturday to see the final totals for the other counties.
Even these totals are not yet final. Additional ballots by mail will be returned up to Election Day. After Election Day, some additional ballots by mail from certain voters stationed overseas will also be counted.
