SAN ANTONIO – Heading into the 12th and final early voting Friday, 541,000 people have already cast a ballot in Bexar County.
While it’s a big number far above recent elections, it’s actually much closer to a regular turnout when looking at it as a percentage of turnout. Bexar County has added 250,000 voters since the 2016 election. So, in terms of raw numbers, turnout is all but guaranteed to be higher.
This year’s turnout between in-person and mail ballots stands at 41.8%, compared to 39.3% and 40.6% in the 2020 and 2016 elections at the same point in time.
Early voting in 2016 ended its 12th day of early voting with 41.8% turnout and nearly 437,000 votes cast.
Early voting in 2020 ended its 12th day of early voting with 35.5% turnout and nearly 422,000 votes cast. Because of the pandemic, though, it lasted an additional six days and reached 57.2% turnout with 680,000 votes by the end.
In a press conference on Friday morning, Bexar County Election Administrator Jacque Callanen asked people to be prepared and remain patient if they encounter a long line. You can also plan out where you want to vote by looking at KSAT’s running list of the busiest and least busy early vote centers.
Callanen re-emphasized that voters are not allowed to use their phones or other wireless communications devices within 100 feet of the voting stations. However, voters can use paper ballots to make notes for their candidates or propositions of preference, especially since charter amendments have lengthy ballot language.
Those notes cannot be visible to other voters or used to campaign for a candidate.
Voters cannot wear clothing or bring signs expressing a preference for or against any candidate, measure, or political party within 100 feet of the voting station.
Here’s a look at how this year’s turnout compares to the past four presidential elections.