Texas Early Voting Totals Are Up

According to figures released by the Texas Secretary of State, it looks like party voters are more energized and interested than they were at the same time in 2006. It's amazing what some contested races will do for the turnout. For Republicans, it's the three way governor's race between Perry, Hutchison and Medina. For the Democrats, it's the Lt. Governor's race between Earle and Chavez, and the Ag Commissioner race between Friedman and Gilbert (for Dems the governor's race is pretty much over).

After six days of early voting in 2006, the total vote was 91,403. After six days in 2010, the total early vote is 176,781. That's a difference of 85,378 or 93% higher in 2010. But Republicans hold the edge in turnout. After six days, 104,469 Republicans have voted and 72,312 Democrats have voted.

When you figure in the seventh day's totals, the total vote jumps up to 212,976, with 126,737 Republicans and 86,239 Democrats voting early. This doesn't bode well for Democrats. Since the number of those admitting membership in either party are roughly equal statewide, either a significant number of independents are voting in the Republican primary or a significant number of Democrats are staying home. I suspect it is the former, and that could hurt Democrats in November.

Let me be clear. The above totals are not statewide totals. They are the totals for the largest 15 counties in the state, but since that's where most of the population is, I imagine it would be very close to what's happening statewide. For instance, here in Potter and Randall counties the 2010 early vote is up over 2006, and the vote skews toward the Republicans.

Here are the vote totals for the largest 15 counties after seven days:

Harris Rep..........21,421

Harris Dem..........14,018

Dallas Rep..........13,813

Dallas Dem..........8,537

Tarrant Rep..........16,593

Tarrant Dem..........3,234

Bexar Rep..........15,410

Bexar Dem..........11,079

Travis Rep..........9,235

Travis Dem..........7,134

Collin Rep..........11,907

Collin Dem..........1,224

El Paso Rep..........3,813

El Paso Dem..........9,803

Denton Rep..........7,283

Denton Dem..........798

Ft. Bend Rep..........4,662

Ft. Bend Dem..........2,071

Hidalgo Rep..........1,377

Hidalgo Dem..........16,961

Montgomery Rep..........7,297

Montgomery Dem..........753

Williamson Rep..........6,956

Williamson Dem..........1,608

Nueces Rep..........3,168

Nueces Dem..........2,561

Galveston Rep..........2,747

Galveston Dem..........1,713

Cameron Rep..........1,055

Cameron Dem..........4,745

TOTAL.........212,976