TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas — With just over two weeks until the November general election, many Americans are already heading to the polls. Monday marked the start of early voting in Texas, with record turnout reported in Travis County.
According to the Travis County Clerk’s Office, the county saw higher numbers on the first day of voting this year than in the past three general elections.
More than 46,000 ballots were cast on day one this year, with roughly 35,000 in 2020 and 2016. The 2012 election saw the lowest voter turnout, with just over 16,000 people showing up at the start of early voting.
The county also noted early voting lasted 18 days back in 2020, giving voters one extra day amid the COVID-19 pandemic compared to Texas’ usual 17. As of Oct. 22, the Travis County Clerk is reporting a total of 924,759 registered voters.
Meanwhile, another Central Texas county also saw an influx of voters. Roughly 27,000 residents voted Monday in Williamson County, compared to an average of 22,000 in 2020 and approximately 18,000 in 2016.
If you want to vote early in Texas, there’s still time. The last day to do so is Nov. 1, followed by the general election on Nov. 5. However, if you haven’t registered to vote, the deadline already passed Oct. 7. You can still check your registration status in Texas here.
In Texas, early polling spots are open at varying times based on location. You can find a full list of Central Texas polling places here.
For all the latest election coverage, head to kvue.com/VoteTexas.