Beto Driven First Day of Early Voter Turnout May Hint at Record for General Election

UPDATE Monday 10/22/18 7:30 p.m.  There were long lines at voting locations in Tom Green County for the first day of early voting, especially at the Elections Office in the Keyes building downtown. 

According to Tom Green County Elections Administrator Vona Hudson late Monday, the number of voters for early voting in person Monday was 2,482.  This does not include provisional or limited voters.

Political pundits say a large voter turnout may benefit Texas Democrats. 

If high turnout this time is caused by the high turnout during this year's primaries, it means Democrats are voting. Back during the 2018 primaries, the Texas Tribune noted on Feb. 21, 2018, "On Tuesday, more Democrats cast primary ballots than Republicans on the first day of early voting in the 15 Texas counties with the most registered voters. That hasn't happened since 2008. Fifty-four percent of the day’s 51,249 in-person votes in those counties Tuesday were cast in the Democratic primaries, according to the Texas secretary of state. In 2014, that number was slightly less than half, and in 2010, Democrats represented just 45 percent of first-day voters." 

At least one voter who wanted to cast a ballot at the Christoval Community Center shortly after 5 p.m. was turned away by election officials.  

Interest in the San Angelo ISD bond proposals and passion about the United States Senate race between Senator Ted Cruz and challenger Beto O’Rourke seem to be driving voters to the polls.

According to RealClearPolitics, Cruz leads O’Rourke by an average of seven points on the first day of early voting and Cruz leads by at least five points in every poll.  RealClearPolitics has the race leaning Republican. The average has Cruz at 50.8 percent and O’Rourke at 43.8 percent. The latest Quinnipiac poll has Cruz up by nine points.

San Angelo voters have a choice of two bond proposals from the San Angelo Independent School District.  Back in May, voters rejected a $149 million bond proposal by two votes. This time, voters can vote for or against on two proposals; Proposition A totals $111,480,000 and would provide classroom space, safety measures, handicap accessibility and aging facility conditions for Alta Loma, Austin, Bellaire, Bonham, Bowie, Fannin, Ft. Concho, and McGill elementary schools, Glenn Middle School, the Central Freshman Campus and an Alternative Learning Center according to the San Angelo ISD website.  

Proposition B would provide $34,040,000 for a 3,000 seat new gymnasium for Central High School and new baseball and softball field house at Lake View High School.  

If both bonds pass, property taxes would increase $14.59 per month on the average home in San Angelo.  

Also on the Tom Green County ballot there are two contested races; one for Pct. 1 Justice of the Peace and one for County Commissioner in Pct. 4.  

Voters who live in Pct.1, the northeastern quadrant of Tom Green County, can vote for Republican incumbent Justice of the Peace Susan Werner or Democrat challenger Sally Ayana. Werner served as a clerk in the Justice of the Peace office for nine years before being appointed Justice.  Ayana has never held public office and has no experience in the Justice of the Peace office.

In Pct. 4, the southwest quarter of the county, voters will decide between incumbent Bill Ford and write-in candidate Gilbert Gallegos.  Gallegos is a late entry into the race. Both Werner and Gallegos have been endorsed by the San Angelo Realtors Association.  

Sample ballots are available here.  Early voting runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sunday, and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 29 to Nov. 2 in five locations: the elections office in the Keyes building, the Christoval Community Center, The San Angelo ISD PAYS building on Knickerbocker Rd., Lincoln Middle School on Lake View Heroes Drive, and in the Sarah Bernhardt Theatre at Central High School.   

Election day is Tuesday, Nov. 6 and polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 .p.m.