The second week of early voting is upon us, and your helpful fact of the day is that voting early can help cut back on the number of political fundraising texts you receive.
Texans took to the polls over the weekend, resulting in the statewide voter turnout outpacing the number of ballots cast by this point in both the 2016 and 2020 elections. Across North Texas counties, the higher number of voters was a welcome change after a slight slump in turnout midweek. That slump followed the flurry of excitement when polls opened on Oct. 21.
Prior to Friday, Denton County was the only North Texas county that had managed to boast higher turnout numbers than those recorded in 2016 and 2020. Data released each day by the Secretary of State’s Office show that by the time polls closed Saturday, nearly 36% of Denton County voters had cast their ballot, significantly outpacing past election years.
In Dallas County, 23.5% of voters had voted by end of day Saturday, catching up with 2016 and 2020’s numbers, and in Tarrant County, 27.5% of registered voters had voted, exceeding both 2016 and 2020. Nearly one in three Collin County voters have already cast their ballot, outperforming the county’s 2020 turnout and keeping pace with 2016’s numbers.
The last day of early voting is Nov. 1, and absentee ballots must be postmarked by election day, Nov. 5, to be counted.
Dallas County Extends Hours in Second Week of Early Voting
Starting Wednesday, Oct. 30, Dallas County polling stations will be open from 7 a.m. until 9 p.m., the county elections department announced Friday. Voting locations were initially scheduled to close at 7 p.m.
Extended hours will be followed at Dallas County voting locations through Nov. 1.
"Extending our early voting hours underscores our mission to make voting as accessible as possible for all eligible Dallas County voters," Heider Garcia, elections administrator for the Dallas County Elections Department, said in a statement. “We’re aiming to ensure that every resident who wishes to vote early has the opportunity.”
Experts Believe Polling Issues Are Isolated
Tarrant County reported more than 58,000 votes being cast last Monday, on the first day of early voting, and the tale of one voter who claimed his ballot did not reflect his selection for president went viral across social media early last week. The Tarrant County elections office confirmed that the ballot did not reflect who the man believed he had selected. The error was reported to the Secretary of State’s Office and the voter received a new ballot.
But a statement made by the county added that officials do not believe the voting system is changing selections, and that voters are “highly encouraged” to double check their selections before submitting their ballots.
In Dallas County, glitches to the software used to check in voters posed issues early in the week, resulting in long wait times at election sites and some voters being given ballots for the incorrect precincts. In an interview with The Dallas Morning News, Garcia said the glitch was largely fixed after the first day of early voting, but presented some isolated problems later into the week.
He added that the error “could not have been more untimely,” occurring just days after the county’s voting systems had been tested for a third time after local Republicans warned the machines were faulty. Multiple elected officials and state offices have confirmed the Dallas County election is secure.
You Can Lead a Horse to the Election Site
We are at the point in the election cycle when it feels like we’ve seen it all, but poll workers at Fort Worth’s Golden Triangle Library probably have a better claim than most.
Last Friday, a Fort Worth voter spotted a mounted cowboy in line to vote. Social media photos show that the man actually led his massive horse into the library, but was asked to please leave his steed outside while casting his ballot.
If the cowboy can make it out to vote, the rest of us have no excuse.
In line to vote at Golden Triangle @FtWorthLibrary. Even the horses vote (and wear cowboy hats) in Texas.🤠🗳️💙🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/SQpcAErGyy
— Laney Hawes (@LaneyHawes) October 25, 2024
Reminder: It’s Illegal to Wear Political Insignia to the Polls
Today’s politically tense climate is a good time to remind everyone that wearing political or campaign-adjacent gear to the polls is considered electioneering, which is prohibited within 100 feet of a Texas polling place during an election season.
We bring this up because late Friday, a San Antonio election clerk was allegedly assaulted after repeatedly asking a man to remove his "Make America Great Again" hat at the election site. According to authorities, 63-year-old Jesse Lutzenberger was arrested and charged with injury to an elderly person, a felony, after hitting the clerk in the face and chest with his fists.
In a statement, Bexar County Elections Administrator Jacquelyn Callanen urged voters to “remain calm,” and added that the majority of voting experiences so far this election have been positive ones. The incident appears to be the first instance of violence against a poll worker this election.
