Cedric Willis is an independent voter craving change; Louis and Karen Becerra are Republicans demanding an equitable immigration policy; Michael Panesar is a Democrat looking for a president who would exhibit cultural sensitivity in the Middle East.

Although they expressed dramatically divergent views on national and world affairs, Willis, Panesar, the Becerras and others were in complete agreement on one point: 2008 is shaping up to be the most exciting political year in recent memory. The political enthusiasts were among the first to cast their ballots Tuesday as Harris County opened 35 polling spots for early primary voting.

By the end of the day, 9,233 ballots were cast in the Democratic primary; 2,914 in the Republican, said Harris County Clerk's spokesman Hector de Leon. First-day totals for early voting in the 2004 presidential primary totaled 849 in the Democratic contests and 678 in the Republican.

"I think a lot of people are watching the national primaries," de Leon said. "They recognize Texas has a role to play."

Turnout was also brisk in the suburbs, including Fort Bend County, where 1,697 ballots were cast in the Democratic primary and 944 in the Republican.

"We need a change in approach," said Willis, 33. "We need a new approach on education, a new approach on health care, a new approach on immigration. We need changes on everything. It's a big concept. It scares some people."

As with the others interviewed at Harris County's main polling spot in the downtown administration building, Panesar said the heat of the presidential primary drew him to vote early. This election, he said, offers "hope for this country and hope for the world."

"America needs a leader who has cultural sensitivity to the Middle East," Panesar said. "That's where our national policy seems to be headed. ... We've had enough with the saber rattling."

Paige Caddle, whose father served in the U.S. Marines, cast her ballot for John McCain in the Republican primary, saying she is opposed to a premature withdrawal from Iraq. "I came out this morning not so much for the candidates but more for a passion over the right to vote," she said. "There are troops dying for that right."

Caddle said she worries about the security of the nation's borders and favors giving local police the power to arrest illegal immigrants.

The Becerras, who described themselves as "Hispanic Republicans," also voted for McCain, but they could not have disagreed more with Caddle on the issue of immigration.

"There's too much emphasis on the security of the southern border," Louis Becerra said. "The southern people come over here to make a living for their families. The people with money who come to take over our businesses are coming through the northern border. A lot of terrorists come through that border, too."

Karen Becerra said she and her husband are committed Republicans who "want to see fiscal accountability. We want to help people help themselves."

For comparative purposes to 15 counties out 254:

Early Voting - February 19, 2008 (Republican)

March 4, 2008
Early Voting
Cumulative Totals
Thru Close of Business
February 19, 2008

County	Reg Voters	Party	# In Person On 2/19/2008	Cumulative In-Person Voters	Cumulative % In-Person	Cumulative By Mail Voters	Cumulative In-Person And Mail Voters	Cumulative Percent Early Voting
Harris	1,804,641	Republican	2,916	2,916	0.16%	1,214	4,130	0.23%
Dallas	1,114,002	Republican	2,416	2,416	0.22%	566	2,982	0.27%
Tarrant	890,412	Republican	2,605	2,605	0.29%	446	3,051	0.34%
Bexar	867,084	Republican	2,267	2,267	0.26%	482	2,749	0.32%
Travis	541,315	Republican	1,187	1,187	0.22%	202	1,389	0.26%
Collin	378,730	Republican	1,701	1,701	0.45%	204	1,905	0.50%
El Paso	368,579	Republican	893	893	0.24%	63	956	0.26%
Denton	329,099	Republican	1,012	1,012	0.31%	287	1,299	0.39%
Hidalgo	287,988	Republican	322	322	0.11%	30	352	0.12%
Fort Bend	267,583	Republican	944	944	0.35%	1,373	2,317	0.87%
Montgomery	224,321	Republican	1,223	1,223	0.55%	597	1,820	0.81%
Williamson	206,334	Republican	715	715	0.35%	21	736	0.36%
Nueces	189,534	Republican	423	423	0.22%	132	555	0.29%
Galveston	180,288	Republican	1,185	1,185	0.66%	3	1,188	0.66%
Cameron	165,996	Republican	239	239	0.14%	5	244	0.15%
Total	7,815,906		20,048	20,048	0.26%	5,625	25,673	0.33%

Early Voting - February 19, 2008 (Democrat)

March 4, 2008
Early Voting
Cumulative Totals
Thru Close of Business
February 19, 2008

County	Reg Voters	Party	# In Person On 2/19/2008	Cumulative In-Person Voters	Cumulative % In-Person	Cumulative By Mail Voters	Cumulative In-Person And Mail Voters	Cumulative Percent Early Voting
Harris	1,804,641	Democrat	9,243	9,243	0.51%	806	10,049	0.56%
Dallas	1,114,002	Democrat	8,615	8,615	0.77%	1,219	9,834	0.88%
Tarrant	890,412	Democrat	5,733	5,733	0.64%	1,682	7,415	0.83%
Bexar	867,084	Democrat	6,827	6,827	0.79%	375	7,202	0.83%
Travis	541,315	Democrat	6,199	6,199	1.15%	469	6,668	1.23%
Collin	378,730	Democrat	2,358	2,358	0.62%	116	2,474	0.65%
El Paso	368,579	Democrat	4,603	4,603	1.25%	56	4,659	1.26%
Denton	329,099	Democrat	1,751	1,751	0.53%	81	1,832	0.56%
Hidalgo	287,988	Democrat	5,793	5,793	2.01%	390	6,183	2.15%
Fort Bend	267,583	Democrat	1,710	1,710	0.64%	162	1,872	0.70%
Montgomery	224,321	Democrat	856	856	0.38%	128	984	0.44%
Williamson	206,334	Democrat	1,082	1,082	0.52%	24	1,106	0.54%
Nueces	189,534	Democrat	1,832	1,832	0.97%	232	2,064	1.09%
Galveston	180,288	Democrat	400	400	0.22%	28	428	0.24%
Cameron	165,996	Democrat	2,482	2,482	1.50%	41	2,523	1.52%
Total	7,815,906		59,484	59,484	0.76%	5,809	65,293	0.84%

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