Election Day may see higher turnout (early voting heavy in Democrat Travis County)

Austin American-Statesman ^ | Friday, November 1, 2002 | AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF

[PAR35]

Election Day may see higher turnout

40 percent of Texas voters are expected at the polls

Texas' top election official said Thursday that she expects about 40 percent of the state's 12.6 million registered voters will cast ballots this year.

Secretary of State Gwyn Shea said she was basing that estimate, in part, on early voting figures to date. If accurate, that would be a substantial increase over the last gubernatorial election, in 1998, when 32.5 percent of those registered cast a vote.

Today is the last day to vote early.

Of the state's 15 most populous counties, Travis and Williamson have the highest percent of voters showing up early, at about 14 percent. Travis County has traditionally voted Democratic, and Williamson County has traditionally voted Republican in statewide elections.

Political experts said strong early voting isn't always a sign of a high turnout election day. But Cal Jillson, a political science professor at Southern Methodist University, said the higher turnout bodes well for the Democratic ticket, which remains behind the Republicans in polls for most of the top races.

"Somewhere around 40 percent, it becomes a strong advantage for Democrats," Jillson said. "Especially if you have -- as in this case -- strong turnout in the Valley and in cities."

Republican spokesman Ted Royer said his party sees strong voting patterns in some suburban areas, such as Williamson and Collin counties, that would benefit Republicans.

[PAR35]

The democrats have already voted at least once - have you? Polls close today at 7:00 pm in most areas.

Cal Jillson, a political science professor at Southern Methodist University, said the higher turnout bodes well for the Democratic ticket

[ffrancone]

IT'S FOUR DAYS 'TIL THE ELECTION
WANNA HELP ME TAKE BACK THE SENATE?

TakeBackCongress.org

A resource for conservatives who want a Republican Senate

[Tall_Texan]

Count me as one of them. And even though I live in Travis County, I voted mostly Republican (minus a couple of RINOs and one Republican that annoys me with telemarketing calls).

I used the computer screen voting machines for the first time. The process makes write-ins extremely inconvenient. Of course, one wonders what dirty tricks happen *after* the votes are cast.

[PAR35]

Someone may have more info on this, but I think you will find the touch screens mainly in the democrat "urban" areas, and the harder to hack systems in use in Republican counties.

[Wright is right!]

Early Voting concluded yesterday here in TN with over 500,000 votes cast statewide, the largest number of votes ever cast prior to election day. Of course, the question of a State Lottery is on the ballot (constitutional amendment to allow lottery within narrow definition), so that's juiced up a lot of pipple. Also, there is the governor's race and the US Senate seat now held by actor Fred Thompson to choose from.

And then we read AP stories that "experts" say voter turnout is likely to be VERY LOW. These "experts" are no doubt trying to depress turnout, in hopes of making close contests into battles between the parties' core voters.

Michael

[FryingPan101]

Early voting is going through the roof in Democratic controlled El Paso. Really high numbers these last couple of days.

[deport]

Thursday and Fridays numbers need to be added to this total which is through Wed....

http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/earlyvoting2002/oct30.shtml

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Early Voting - October 30, 2002

November 5, 2002 Early Voting Cumulative Totals Thru Close of Business Oct 30, 2002 Prepared by: Elections Division
County	Reg Voters	# In Person On Oct. 30, 2002	* In- Person Voters	* % In- Person	* By Mail Voters	* In- Person And Mail Voters	* Percent Early Voting
Harris	1,902,561	17,301	104,600	5.50%	9,007	113,607	5.97%
Dallas	1,208,201	13,476	92,333	7.64%	18,144	110,477	9.14%
Bexar	884,103	10,346	81,794	9.25%	12,311	94,105	10.64%
Tarrant	876,576	11,140	75,438	8.61%	14,823	90,261	10.30%
Travis	555,065	9,266	71,376	12.86%	6,379	77,755	14.01%
El Paso	355,201	4,073	32,880	9.26%	3,067	35,947	10.12%
Collin	319,236	5,231	32,034	10.03%	3,080	35,114	11.00%
Denton	306,174	3,776	26,230	8.57%	1,565	27,795	9.08%
Hidalgo	257,763	2,454	21,144	8.20%	2,102	23,246	9.02%
Fort Bend	224,551	2,663	15,431	6.87%	2,260	17,691	7.88%
Nueces	200,322	2,255	19,184	9.58%	1,542	20,726	10.35%
Montgomery	196,250	2,660	17,687	9.01%	3,576	21,263	10.83%
Galveston	177,598	2,672	15,529	8.74%	2,460	17,989	10.13%
Williamson	177,935	3,653	23,651	13.29%	1,422	25,073	14.09%
Jefferson	164,006	2,142	16,563	10.10%	2,521	19,084	11.64%
Total	7,805,542	93,108	645,874	8.27%	84,259	730,133	9.35%
*Cumulative

2000 .. 21.30%
1998 .. 8.43%

[DeRATted]

Wasn't there an article in the Statesman about potential fraud in Travis County early voting? Someone actually working the polls convincing people to vote straight Democrat?