Texas Early Voting Reaches 5.5 Million Ballots — 29 Percent of Registered Voters — as the Final Two Days Begin
The Secretary of State's count, reported by FOX 7 Austin on Wednesday, puts turnout slightly ahead of 2022's pace but well below presidential years, with Austin-area wait times easing and both parties now chasing independents who have not yet voted.
Texas early voting has reached 5.5 million ballots, according to the Secretary of State's Office as reported by FOX 7 Austin on Wednesday — 29 percent of the roughly 19 million Texans registered to vote, with two days of early voting left before the polls close Friday, Oct. 30.
FOX 7 reported that wait times at most early voting locations were down Wednesday across the Austin metro, leaving the day's open question whether the early surge has ended or is only pausing for a mid-week lull before a Friday dash. The turnout is tracking slightly ahead of the early-vote pace from 2022, the station reported, but remains well below the presidential-year rates of 9.7 million early votes in 2020 and 9.1 million in 2024.
With the first wave banked, both parties turned Wednesday to the voters who have not yet cast ballots, independents included. "As I've said before, the Texas suburbs are far more purple than they were 10 years ago. And I think this midterm may well provide proof of that very contention," Greg Groogan of FOX 26 said on the Battleground Texas program, as reported by FOX 7. Austin Rep. Greg Casar, who voted Wednesday, urged those who have not voted not to be scared off by the last-minute ad blitz, and his Republican challenger Lauren Pena predicted Republicans will start to pick up while independents decide her district. There is no voting this Saturday, Sunday or Monday; Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.
