Travis County sees record-breaking turnout as early voting winds down

Travis County sees record-breaking turnout as early voting winds down

Written by Staff Thursday, 30 October 2008

Travis County voters broke previous early voting turnout records this week with more than 229,500 voters casting a ballot, besting the 2004 record of 222,085. More than 15,000 votes had been cast mid-way through the voting period Oct. 30.

Travis County Clerk Dana DeBeauvoir said that vote totals are steadily climbing toward what she expects to be a strong finish to the early voting period on Oct. 31.

"We won't be surprised to see 50,000 voters on the final day — about twice the first-day turnout," DeBeauvoir said. "We're still trying to spread the word that voting early is going to be more convenient than voting on Election Day."

The two mega voting sites (5501 Airport Blvd. and 4534 West Gate Blvd.) will be open until 9:00 pm on the final two days of Early Voting. Other sites close at 7:00 pm.

Adding to the typical excitement of the last day of early voting is the coincidental timing of Halloween. Calls to the County Clerk's office about whether costumes are permitted are increasing.

"It's perfectly fine for voters to wear costumes to the polls, as long as they do not depict a particular candidate or political party," DeBeauvoir said. "Also, masks, weapons or simulated weapons are not permitted."

Standard prohibitions against electioneering apply to political buttons, t-shirts and caps. Voters who wear inappropriate items will be asked to remove or cover the items. Election judges are trained to work with voters to find a solution that avoids turning voters away from the polls.

DeBeauvoir offered several suggestions to voters to help speed the voting process when they go to the polls.

1. Study a sample ballot on the Elections Division web site: www.traviscountyelections.org.
2. Bring your voter registration card if available.
3. If the voter registration card is not available, bring another form of identification. A photo ID is NOT REQUIRED. Acceptable forms of identification include a driver's license or student ID; Social Security card, passport or birth certificate; official mail addressed to the voter from a governmental entity; utility bill; bank statement or paycheck showing the voter's name and current address.
4. Take advantage of eSlate demonstration units available at every early voting location to review the functions of the voting equipment.
5. Ask for help from an election worker regarding any questions before pressing the "cast ballot" button.

Related links:

• Charter Elections
• 2008 Joint General and Special Elections

Travis County Early Voting Sites

• MEGA VOTING SITES
  • Travis County Airport Blvd Offices, 5501 Airport Blvd, (Across from Lammes Candies)
  • West Tower Village, Suite 115, 4534 West Gate Boulevard (Across Westgate Blvd from the Westgate Cinema)
• CENTRAL
  • Travis County Courthouse, 1000 Guadalupe Street, Mon–Sat 7 am–7 pm, Sun Noon–6 pm
  • Fiesta Mart Central, 3909 North IH-35 @ Delwood Shopping Center, Mon–Sat 7 am–7 pm, Sun Noon–6 pm
  • University of Texas, 2400 Inner Campus Drive, Flawn Academic Center Lobby, West Mall, UT Campus, Mon–Sat 7 am–7 pm, Sun Noon–6 pm
  • Howson Public Library, 2500 Exposition Boulevard, Mon–Fri 10 am–7 pm, Sat 10 am–5 pm, Sun closed
  • Washington Mutual Bank (WaMu), 1000 East 41st Street, Suite 710, Mon–Fri 10 am–6 pm, Sat 10 am–1 pm, Sun closed
• NORTH
  • Ben Hur Shriners Hall, 7811 Rockwood Lane, Mon–Sat 7 am–7 pm, Sun Noon–6 pm
  • Round Rock ISD Performing Arts Center, 5800 McNeil Drive, Mon–Sat 7 am–7 pm, Sun Noon–6 pm
• NORTHEAST
  • MT Supermarket, 10901 N. Lamar Blvd., Bldg G at Chinatown Center, Mon–Sat 10 am–7 pm, Sun Noon–6 pm
  • County Tax Office, Pflugerville (Community Room), 15822 Foothill Farms Loop, Mon–Sat 7 am–7 pm, Sun Noon–6 pm
  • Goodwill Industries, 1015 Norwood Park Boulevard, Mon–Sat 7 am–7 pm, Sun Noon–6 pm
• NORTHWEST
  • Randalls Research and Braker, 10900-D Research Boulevard @ Braker Lane, Mon–Sat 7 am–7 pm, Sun Noon–6 pm
  • HEB Four Points, FM 620 and RR 2222, 7301 FM 620 North (temp building in parking lot), Mon–Sat 7 am–7 pm, Sun Noon–6 pm
• SOUTH
  • Travis County Juvenile Probation Department Annex, 2501 South Congress Avenue, Mon–Sat 7 am–7 pm, Sun Noon–6 pm
  • Randalls Ben White and Manchaca, 2025 West Ben White Boulevard @ Manchaca Road, Mon–Sat 7 am–7 pm, Sun Noon–6 pm
• SOUTHEAST
  • Dan Ruiz Public Library, 1600 Grove Blvd, Mon–Fri 10 am–7 pm, Sat 10 am–5 pm, Sun Noon–6 pm
  • Fiesta Mart Stassney, 5510 S. IH-35 @ Stassney, Mon–Sat 7 am–7 pm, Sun Noon–6 pm
• SOUTHWEST
  • Randalls South Mopac and William Cannon, 6600 South Mopac @ William Cannon, Mon–Sat 7 am–7 pm, Sun Noon–6 pm
  • Randalls Brodie and Slaughter, 9911 Brodie Lane @ Slaughter Lane, Mon–Sat 7 am–7 pm, Sun Noon–6 pm
• EAST
  • Parque Zaragoza Recreation Center, 2608 Gonzales Street @ East 7th, Mon–Fri 10 am–7 pm, Sat 10 am–5 pm, Sun Noon–6 pm
  • Northeast Health Center, 7112 Ed Bluestein Boulevard, Suite 155 (Springdale Shopping Center), Mon–Sat 7 am–7 pm, Sun Noon–6 pm
  • Carver Complex, 1161 Angelina Street, Mon–Fri 10 am–7 pm, Sat 10 am–5 pm, Sun Noon–6 pm
• WEST
  • Flagship Randalls at Westlake Hills, 3300 Bee Caves Road, Mon–Sat 7 am–7 pm, Sun Noon–6 pm
  • Randalls Lakeway, 2301 RR 620 South, Hours : Mon–Sat 7 am–7 pm, Sun Noon–6 pm
  • Bee Cave City Hall, 4000 Galleria Parkway, Mon–Sat 7 am–7 pm, Sun. Noon–6 pm

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