TYLER COUNTY – With one week down in the early voting period, 4,672 registered voters turned out to the polls already, from numbers reported by the Tyler County Clerk’s Office on Tuesday.
That number represents 31% of the county’s total registered voters, according to Amanda Stephens, who serves as the deputy voter registrar with the clerk’s office. The county’s total number of registered voters numbers about 14,565.
Of that total, which also includes 590 voters on Monday, Oct. 28, the turnout has greatly exceeded the first-week total in the last presidential election year, 2020, during which 2,229 voters cast their ballots early.
The trend mirrors what has been witnessed, statewide, according to figures from the Texas secretary of state.
About 5.98 million Texans, or a little above 32% of the registered voters in the state, have taken advantage of early voting, as of Tuesday. By week two of early voting in 2020, more than 8.1 million Texans had voted, but that year had six extra days of early voting due to the pandemic, which was in full effect at the time.
This year, secretary of state Jane Nelson reported that there is a record number of 18.62 million registered voters, up from the 16.95 million in 2020.
Nelson, in a news release on Friday, wanted to remind voters to double-check their precinct numbers and candidate selections before casting their ballots.
“Texas has more than 18 million registered voters, and we want to make sure every eligible vote counts. All voting systems in Texas are designed to give voters an opportunity to review their selections before casting their ballot,” she said.
Voters can find their precinct number by using My Voter Portal, which they can navigate to through VoteTexas.gov. Additionally, precinct numbers are printed on voter registration cards.
Aside from the presidential election, voters are also weighing in on whether or not to re-elect Sen. Ted Cruz, who is facing Democratic challenger Colin Allred.
Rep. Brian Babin (R-Woodville) of Texas’s 36th congressional district is facing a Democratic challenger, Dayna Steele.
Most county elected officials are running unopposed in the general election, including Sheriff Bryan Weatherford; Pct. 1 Commissioner Joe Blacksher; Pct. 3 Commissioner Mike Marshall; Tax-Assessor Collector Melissa Carson; Pct. 1 Justice of the Peace Tina Self and Pct. 1 Constable Tim Scroggins.
In the city of Woodville, both mayor Amy Bythewood and Kelly Dillard, who is the Place 2 Alderman on the city council, are running unopposed. Place 4 Alderman Mike Cabaniss is running for a second term on the council against challenger Morgan Hoskins.
A couple of different propositions are also on the ballot for Tyler County voters. In Pct. 1, voters can choose a “for” or “against” vote to legalize the sale of beer and wine for off-premise consumption within the precinct.
In Pct. 2, there is a proposition to allow horses, mules, jacks, jennets, donkeys, hogs, sheep or goats to run at large. Voters can vote “for” or “against” this proposal, and the other proposition on the ballot is whether or not to adopt the stock law, if it is approved.
The early voting location for Tyler Countians is the Tyler County Nutrition Center, located at 201 Veterans Way, in Woodville, behind McClure’s Furniture. The polls are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Thursday, and on Friday, Nov. 1, the hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
