“This is an important election and we’re expecting a huge turnout,” Ms. Andrade said before encouraging people who are prepared to vote to go early.
“The message we’re trying to deliver is if you don’t want to stand in line on Nov. 4, get out early and take advantage of early voting,” said Randall Dillard, spokesman for the secretary of state.
Ms. Andrade visited with county voting officials in a 15-minute, closed-door meeting Monday. Ms. Andrade characterized the meeting as routine. She has been visiting counties throughout Texas in an effort to make sure the state is prepared for Election Day.
Election officials in Bell County plan to have double the ballots available compared to the primary when some early voting locations reported running out of ballots.
Texas has more than 13.4 million voters, the most ever for the state, surpassing the 13.1 million who registered for the presidential election of 2004.
Thirty-three percent of registered voters, or 4.2 million people, cast votes in the 2008 primary - a 20-year record turnout for a primary. More than 18,000 people voted early in Bell County, which was four times the number that voted early in 2004.
Bell County anticipates a final count of registered voters to be available today. Sharon Long, county tax assessor, said the number of registered voters here could top 160,000 for the first time.
“The state wants to make sure that we’re all prepared,” Ms. Andrade said.
Voting early generally allows people to avoid delays in casting a ballot. Bell County Elections Coordinator Jana Henderson said voting numbers have generally been low on the weekends during early voting.
“If you’re prepared to vote, go early,” Dillard said. “Go on the weekend.”
Bell County voters may vote early in any of the six polling locations, regardless of their precinct, beginning Oct. 20.
Promer@temple-telegram.com
