Overview
- State data show roughly 7.41 million Texans cast early ballots by the close of the 12-day window on Oct. 30, a new midterm record and about 39% of registered voters.
- Several large counties posted record or near‑record early totals, including Harris County at about 1,081,010, Bexar County at roughly 527,000, Tarrant County with about 571,950, and Travis County surpassing 405,000.
- High volume produced operational stress: Bexar County reported multiple DS300 ballot‑scanner jams at specific sites that required use of emergency ballot boxes, and voters also reported touchscreen errors and long waits up to two hours in some locations.
- The surge concentrated in urban and suburban centers and included many first‑time and younger voters, which alters the pre‑Election Day electorate but does not determine final outcomes because outstanding mail ballots and Election Day votes remain decisive.
- Turnout so far exceeds the 2022 midterm early total and nearly matches the 2018 midterm pace, yet remains below 2024 presidential early voting levels; polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3.