In figures: More than 7.1 million Texans voted early in person through Friday, when early voting closed, representing nearly 37.6% of registered voters, according to data from the Texas Secretary of State.
- Including mail-in ballots, the total rises to more than 7.4 million, or 38.9% of registered voters.
Zoom: In Travis County, about 46.3% of registered voters voted early in person, up from 45.1% in 2018.
- Tarrant County saw the largest increase among the five largest counties, going from 38.5% in 2018 to 41.2% this year.
- Bexar and Harris counties also exceeded their 2018 turnout rates, while Dallas County fell slightly, from 36.9% to 36.6%.
The big picture: Recent polls have shown close statewide races, including the U.S. Senate race between Democrat James Talarico and Republican Ken Paxton, and the governor’s race between incumbent Republican Greg Abbott and Democrat Gina Hinojosa.
Reality check: A high turnout rate does not necessarily favor one party or the other.
What’s next: Polls open Tuesday for Election Day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time across Texas.
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