Yes --- I'm in one of those blue areas but I was pleasantly surprised on Tuesday by the short lines and the professionalism at the precinct --- they actually required the blue voting card and a drivers license and were sending people who were not registered to vote in the district away. I never saw any attempt to prevent fraud in previous elections.
Re: past fraud in S. Texas.
I don't know how long you've lived there, but it was as sure as the sun rising in the east. The 'patrons' dickered votes for cash (as long as they were democratic candidates) in the old days.
If this had been a close election in Texas, then I think the old days would have been back.