Election officials report strong turnouts for early voting so far in Bowie and Miller counties, with numbers on pace to surpass those of the last presidential election.
Early voting began Oct. 24, and as of Monday afternoon, almost 16,000 residents of Bowie County, Texas, and Miller County, Ark., had cast their ballots.
In Bowie County, 10,894 of 59,084 registered voters had voted by 2:45 p.m. Monday, Elections Administrator George Stegall said. And Miller County Election Coordinator Linda Crawford said 5,030 of 25,752 voters registered there had voted as of 2:30 p.m. Monday.
More than 7,000 Miller County residents voted early in the 2012 presidential election, and Crawford said she expects a larger number this year.
"Turnout for early voting has been heavy," she said. "Over the seven days we've been open, we are greatly increased. We've also had quite a few first-time voters."
Crawford said her staff of volunteer election workers is well-prepared and she does not anticipate the large number of voters causing any unusual problems on Nov. 8.
"We're sending out all the equipment we have available for Election Day. We have full staff. We always prepared for an 80 percent turnout," she said. "I think we're in good shape."
Stegall reported a similar increase in Bowie County's early voting numbers over 2012, and he anticipates a significantly higher turnout overall this year.
"Turnout so far is very good. I'm anticipating probably another 6,000 to 8,000 to vote in person before we finish up (with early voting) this week. Whether it's a record-breaking year, so to speak, I don't know yet. But I think it's probably going to be higher-10, 15 percent it looks like right now-than what 2012 was," he said.
No unusual incidents have occurred at the polls in either county, but both Stegall and Crawford have registered some minor complaints from voters.
Crawford said some voters have requested a paper ballot, but none is available in Miller County because of a 2006 Quorum Court decision to use only voting machines.
Provisional ballots used by unregistered voters are paper, but normally registered Miller County voters must use a machine. Each machine creates a paper record of the votes cast using it, which each voters can see being printed as they vote.
Some Bowie County voters have been unhappy that Texas electioneering law prohibits them from wearing campaign-themed clothing, like T-shirts or caps touting a candidate, within 100 feet of a polling place, Stegall said. Election judges ask voters to remove those items or turn them inside out.
Early voting remains available through Friday in Bowie County and through Monday in Miller County.
Stegall encouraged early voters not to procrastinate and take advantage of extended hours, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., on Wednesday and Thursday. "If you wait until Friday, you're probably going to catch long lines," he said.
EARLY VOTING PLACES AND TIMES
Bowie County, Texas
Any registered voter in Bowie County may cast a ballot at either Bowie County Courthouse, 710 James Bowie Drive, New Boston; or Bi-State Justice Building, 601 Main St., Texarkana. Hours are:
- Today, Nov. 1, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Wednesday and Thursday, Nov. 2 and 3, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Friday, Nov. 4, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Miller County, Ark.
Any registered voter in Miller County may cast a ballot at any of the three locations during the hours listed below.
Miller County Courthouse, 400 Laurel St., Texarkana
- Today through Friday, Nov. 1 through 4, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Saturday, Nov. 5, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Monday, Nov. 7, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Hickory Street Baptist Church, 2923 Hickory St., Texarkana
- Thursday and Friday, Nov. 3 and 4, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Saturday, Nov. 5, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Stanley Davis Community Center, 203 N. Redcutt Road, Fouke
- Thursday and Friday, Nov. 3 and 4, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.