Bexar County receives more than 12,000 ballots in first day of early voting

Bexar County residents can vote early through Oct. 31. Credit: Shutterstock / Alan Mazzocco

The Bexar County Elections Department received more than 12,000 ballots Monday, the first day of early voting in the Nov. 4 election, which will decide whether public funds can be used on a new Spurs arena.

Of that figure, 10,159 ballots were cast in person, while another 2,417 were received by mail, according to department officials. That turnout represents just 1% of registered Bexar County voters.

Monday’s total is also an 8% decline compared to the first day of early voting in the June mayoral runoff between Democrat Gina Ortiz Jones and Republican Rolando Pablos, in which 13,699 votes were cast.

The North Side had the busiest polling stations Monday, with Lions Field Adult Senior Center near Alamo Heights, the Brookhollow Branch Library and Cody Public Library off Vance Jackson Road seeing the most action.

Meanwhile, the Frank Garrett Multiservice Center on the West Side, St. Phillips College on the East Side and Somerset City Hall in far South Bexar County were the least busy polling stations.

Locally, Bexar County voters are deciding whether to raise the county’s visitor tax to 2% to help finance upgrades to the San Antonio Stockshow and Rodeo grounds on the East Side, also known as Prop. A.

Voters also will decide on Prop. B, which asks voters whether to use the visitor tax to help finance a new downtown arena for the San Antonio Spurs.

Supporters of the propositions maintain that a new arena will keep the Spurs in San Antonio and revitalize downtown, while the rodeo upgrades will build up the East Side area after the NBA team leaves Frost Bank Center.

However, opponents to the arena plan argue that the potential costs outweigh any alleged economic benefit and that the local leaders failed to deliver on promises made when the Frost Bank Center was built to house the Spurs.

Voters also will weigh in on 17 state ballot questions, dealing with issues ranging from inheritance tax to water infrastructure. More information is available on those measures by visiting the Texas League of Women Voters website.

Voters can cast ballots early in Bexar County at 49 polling locations from now through Oct. 31.

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Bexar County receives more than 12,000 ballots in first day of early voting

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