Bexar County broke its in-person early voter turnout records on both the first and second day of early voting last week. Monday, Oct. 21, had a turnout of 46,903 in-person voters while Tuesday, Oct. 22, had a turnout of 48,067.
In 2016, Bexar County had 1,045,360 registered voters. That number increased to 1,189,373 in the 2020 election and 1,295,580 in this year’s election.
The in-person percent turnout during the first week of early voting this year is almost the exact same as 2016’s. However, from the fifth day through the rest of the week, there is a marginal increase in 2024’s percent turnout.
Days one through three of 2024’s combined in-person votes and mail ballots are noticeably less than the combined votes in 2020, but more than in 2016. The gap between the turnout in 2024 and in 2020 closes on the fourth day. By the fifth day through the rest of the week, this year’s turnout is greater than in 2020.
For the combined percent turnout of in-person votes and mail ballots, 2024 is experiencing the lowest percent turnout on early voting days one through five when compared to both 2016’s and 2020’s combined percent turnout. This year’s turnout on day six exceeds that of 2020, but by day seven it is again below both 2016 and 2020.
Nevertheless, in-person voters have experienced difficulty securing parking at voting sites and over two-hour-long waits in lines. Jacquelyn F. Callanen, Elections Administrator of the Elections Department, urges voters to remember to bring their voter ID and to download their individual, sample ballot from the Bexar County Elections Department website, and mark it ahead of time for a smoother voting experience.
Jon Taylor, UTSA professor and Political Science & Geography Department chair, had the following to say in an interview with KSAT about why voter turnout has been so high.
“It could be, again, just the voter enthusiasm. Issues that are related directly to what voters are thinking about, be it reproductive choice, be it the border, be it the economy. Those are driving voters. It’s obvious.” Taylor also noted that polls appeared to be busy statewide.
The last day of in-person early voting is Friday, Nov. 1. To search for a nearby polling location in Bexar County, visit bexar.org/2229/Voter-Registration-Check-Polling-Locatio.
