Voter Turnout Could Exceed 70 percent Locally

SAN ANGELO, TX -- Early voting ended Friday with a record 24,311 ballots cast and if the pace continues on election day Tuesday, over 70 percent of Tom Green County’s 67,007 registered voters will have participated in a midterm election.    

Roughly 36 percent of voters cast ballots early either in person or by mail.  If another 36 percent of voters cast ballots on election day, total turnout would be over 70 percent.  

Record setting early voting is occurring across the state according to the Secretary of State’s Office.  Almost five million votes have been cast statewide in early voting.

Interest in and passion about the race for U.S. Senator have driven voters to the polls in record numbers across the state according to the Secretary of State’s office.  Incumbent Republican Senator Ted Cruz is facing a tough challenge from Democrat Beto O’Rourke of El Paso. The former congressman has raised tens of millions of dollars and has traveled to all 254 counties in Texas.  

Senator Cruz made a campaign stop in San Angelo last Tuesday evening.  O’Rourke has campaigned in San Angelo at least four times.

There are two contested races locally and the San Angelo ISD bond propositions generating interest as well.  

Incumbent Republican Pct. 1 Justice of the Peace Susan Werner is challenged by Democrat Sally Ayana.  

Incumbent Republican Pct. 4 Tom Green County Commissioner Bill Ford is challenged by write-in candidate Gilbert Gallegos.  

The San Angelo ISD has two bond proposals on the ballot.  Proposition A is for $111 million and would provide for security improvements and new classrooms for elementary and middle schools.  Proposition B would provide funding for a new 3,000 seat gymnasium at Central High School and a new field house facility at Lake View High School.  A similar bond proposal failed by two votes in May.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott is also on the ballot.  The first term Republican is challenged by Democrat Lupe Valdez, the former sheriff of Dallas County.  Abbott leads by double digits and was in San Angelo last Wednesday.

Election day voting runs from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in 19 locations:

• Angelo Bible Church 3506 Sherwood Way
• Belmore Baptist Church 1214 S. Bell
• Calvary Baptist Church 2401 Armstrong St.
• Christoval Community Center 20022 Main St., Christoval
• Celebration Church 2639 Sunset Dr.
• Concho Valley Transit District (Bus Depot) 510 N. Chadbourne
• SAF First Assembly of God Church 1442 Edmund Blvd.
• Grape Creek ISD Admin. Bldg. 8207 US Hwy 87 N
• Keating Paint & Body Shop 5050 N. Chadbourne
• MHMR 1501 W. Beauregard
• Paulann Baptist Church 2531 Smith Bld.
• Segunda Iglesia Bautista 510 W. Avenue T
• Southgate Church of Christ 528 Country Club Rd.
• St. Ambrose Catholic Church 8602 Loop 570, Wall
• TxDOT 4502 Knickerbocker Rd., Bldg. E
• Veribest Baptist Church 50 FM 2334, Veribest
• Wesley Trinity United Methodist Church 301 W. 18th St.
• West Texas Rehab, Conference Center 1925 University