Turning Texas Blue!
Record early voting has been reported statewide, especially in the urban centers. Is it possible we can See a blue Texas on November 4th? I wouldn't count on it but this bodes well for down ticket statewide races and future elections. And hey, anything is possible! By the numbers:
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/metro/6071433.html
AUSTIN — The first day of early voting in the state's most populous counties drew 156,417 more voters than on the kickoff day of voting four years ago.
The Secretary of State's Office has kept day-by-day voter turnout statistics for 15 counties since 1996 — and this year's numbers are off the charts. A total of 346,688 people voted in person or through mail-in ballots that were received Monday, compared to 190,271 on Oct. 18, 2004.
Voting more than doubled in Harris County on the first day and continued to be strong Tuesday. County Clerk Beverly Kaufman reported that 43,411 people had been processed for voting Tuesday, in addition to the 39,201 who voted in person Monday.
Even in Galveston County, where election officials had to scramble to get ready for voting after Hurricane Ike, first-day balloting was up by more than 3,000.
2004 One day totals
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Harris County 30,130
Dallas County 35,144
Tarrant Coutny 19,220
Bexar County 22,594
Travis County 15,983
Hidalgo County 5,076
El Paso County 7,100
2008 One day totals
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Harris County 68,502
Dallas County 52,750
Tarrant County 45,736
Bexar County 40,503
Travis County 32,607
Hidalgo County 9,641
El Paso County 8,600
DREAMING OF A BLUE TEXAS
Blue Oasis Austin
Blue Houston
Blue Dallas
Blue El Paso
Harris County officials reported even heavier voting on day two!