Early voting numbers portend slightly higher voter turnout for courthouse, amendments

Anywhere above 5 percent is a respectable turnout for a Constitutional Amendment Election during Early Voting. Comparatively speaking, anyway.

And as it stands now, .57 percent of Travis County's 644,934 registered voters have cast their ballots. This may not sound like much, but multiply this over the two-week early voting period, factor in increased awareness of the election, and we're on track to meet or exceed that expected 5 percent-plus for early voting. Election day will likely exceed 10 percent overall.


The 2013 Constitutional Amendment election in Travis County drew 5.7 percent in early voting and 8.1 percent on election day, for a total voter turnout of 13.6 percent -- compared to a statewide turnout of 8.6 percent. The higher turnout in the Austin area was no doubt due in part to the House District 50 race, in which Republican Mike VanDeWalle, a well-respected local chiropractor, made a runoff with now-Rep. Celia Israel (D-Austin).

In November 2011 statewide turnout was 5.4 percent and Travis drew in 8.7 percent of registered voters.

What this means is that activists on either side of some controversial propositions on the Nov. 3 ballot -- the civil courthouse, the Pflugerville pet shelter, etc. -- are bringing people to the polls. This bodes well for grassroots activists who rely on person-to-person contact to generate new voters.

UPDATES:
(10/23) Early voting totals increased only slightly over the first week of early voting, bringing the total to 1.5 percent of Travis County registered voters. That's lower than our earlier projections of somewhere near 3 percent. Forecasts of heavy rains may further hamper turnout at weekend boxes.

(11/03) Overall turnout was 11.24 percent statewide and 11.66 percent in Travis County.