AUSTIN, Texas — Early voting is underway in Texas, and Travis County is approaching a new milestone: nearly 1 million registered voters.
“Every year for the last 20-plus years we’ve seen a percent uptick in voter registration, and we’re reaching that one million voter mark for Travis County,” said Travis County Clerk Dyana Limon-Mercado.
Officials expect a couple hundred thousand people to cast ballots early at 45 voting locations across the county.
In South Austin, the opening of a new polling location is bringing voting closer to residents who previously drove 10 to 20 minutes to reach a polling place.
“We pretty much drive across the street now. We can walk. Yeah, we could walk,” said South Austin voter Randall McKee.
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The Menchaca Public Library is serving as a polling location for the first time. Travis County also added a site at Bedichek Middle School in South Austin and another in Pflugerville.
“There are places where we had some gaps and saw an increasing turnout over the last couple of years,” Limon-Mercado said.
Midterm election turnout in Travis County typically reaches about 40% to 50% of eligible voters, according to the clerk. In especially competitive elections, turnout has climbed to nearly 63%.
Limon-Mercado said the county has added polling sites, equipment, and election workers to prepare for a possible surge in voters.
“We did open more sites, more equipment was deployed, more election workers. So, if we do have a surge in voting, we should be equipped to handle it,” she said.
McKee said having a polling place nearby could encourage more people, especially younger voters, to cast a ballot.
“Having something close by as a reminder to vote, I hope it will get younger folks to vote,” he said.
Early voting runs through Oct. 30.