BRYAN, TX — Texas is setting early voting records like never before. Historically, the Lone Star State has been known as a non-voting state, but the 2020 election is a different story.
Texas has seen an increase of two times the early voters in the 2020 election than in the 2016 election.
”It is a historic turnout and I think across the country, across the state for sure but across the country, it has been a historic turnout,” said Trudy Hancock, the elections administrator for Brazos County.
Participation in democracy has been taken very seriously this year in a time where the health and safety of one another is at the up-most importance.
Harris County Judge Lina Higaldo says she witnessed this unity first hand as she visited Rice University to thank election workers.
”We’re inside thanking the poll workers, and the voters were so excited and thanking them with us because we’re seeing participation,” said Judge Higaldo.
Poll workers have been working tirelessly day in and day out to assist counties like Harris County meet record numbers.
”We’re seeing record numbers. We’ve crossed 700,000 voters in seven days. It’s 51% percent of the voters, the 1.3 million voters, that came out in 2016 in the entire election,” said Judge Higaldo.
The early voter turnout has exceeded expectations. As Hancock tracks polling locations day by day with live stats, she says on Tuesday alone, Brazos County saw the high numbers in early voters.
”We have 24,870 people that have cast their ballot, so we have a running. We're connected with all the locations live,” said Hancock.
With fears of the COVID-19 still lingering, the elections administration office could not have foreseen this. It's been a truly historic turnout for the 2020 election all around, including with mail-in ballots, where Brazos County sent out over 6,800.
Brazos County resident Jordi Garcia went out to the polls early after being encouraged by social media.
”I think there’s a lot more people voting this year who wouldn’t vote in other years, so I think that’s a big thing and there’s like a lot of, there’s a huge drive on social media encouraging people to vote, so i feel like people are taking it more seriously now,” said Garcia.
Social media has given encouragement to young voters to make a plan to vote.
Counties across Texas are seeing long lines around polling locations. In Denton County they have already surpassed their 2016 voting number with 27% percent of their registered voters already casting their ballots.