As I predicted, Travis County’s early voting totals are slightly declining as the week goes on, but the numbers are still amazing and well ahead of the 2004 pace.
Today, 24,119 more Travis residents cast ballots in person, bringing the three-day early voting total to 74,226. Also, 728 more mail ballots were received today, pushing the mail-in total to 10,158.
Overall, that’s 84,384 total ballots cast, 14% of Travis’ 609,224 registered voters. After three days in 2004, the three-day total was a mere 51,458 (at that time, 9% of registered). Kick ass! When did voting suddenly become popular? (Similar four-year improvements have been reported in other populous Texas counties.)
The most active early voting location thus far is the new “megasite” next door to the county’s Airport Boulevard offices (5501 Airport Blvd., where the Chair King used to be), which has fielded 5,888 voters. Least busy has been the Parque Zaragosa Recreation Center (c’mon, East Austin – represent!) with 715.
Remember, while Election Day voters must vote in their home precinct, early voters may conveniently vote at any Early or Mobile Voting site. Early voting runs through Oct. 31.
After you’ve voted (or if you need more info to help make up your mind) check in for continually updated news at Election Central.
This article appears in October 17 • 2008.