Robert Moore

El Paso Times

El Paso continued shattering early voting records Thursday.

Final figures won't be available until Friday morning, but as polls closed at 7 p.m. Thursday, about 15,000 El Paso County residents had voted throughout the day. By contrast, fewer than 9,000 people voted on the fourth day of early voting in 2008 and 2012.

More than 15,000 El Pasoans voted on Wednesday, the highest number ever for the third day of early voting. Monday and Tuesday saw the highest numbers ever for first and second days of early voting in El Paso County.

After four straight days of record early voting, more than 66,000 El Pasoans have voted in the 2016 election, at least an 81 percent increase over 2012. It took nine days of early voting in 2012 to reach that many votes.

"I think it sends a message that voters are extremely interested in this election," El Paso County elections administrator Lisa Wise said. "Election after election we hear about the low turnout and the disinterest of El Paso County voters. I’m incredibly encouraged by the high numbers for early voting. Voters are making it a priority to have their voices heard and I’m optimistic that the tide is shifting away from apathy and towards engagement."

New voters continue to be the primary driver of the increased turnout. An El Paso Times analysis of county voting records shows that 27 percent of those who cast ballots in the first three days of early voting did not vote in the county in 2012.

Those new voters are predominately women – 55 percent – and significantly younger than people who voted previously. The new voters have an average age of 48, compared to 61 among voters who cast ballots here in 2012.

El Paso's early voting count includes 5,423 returned mail-in ballots through Wednesday. That's already more mail-in ballots than received in any previous El Paso election.

El Paso has the third-highest early voting increase among Texas' 15 largest counties through three days of early voting, according to the Texas Secretary of State's Office. On Travis County (Austin) and Williamson County (Austin suburbs) have seen larger increases.

About 12 percent of El Paso's registered voters had cast ballots through three days of early voting, placing the county 11th among the 15 largest Texas counties so far. Four years ago, El Paso was dead last in turnout among the largest counties.

Robert Moore