Harris County smashes early voting record

People wait in line for the West Gray early voting place to open Monday, Oct. 22, 2018, in Houston. People wait in line for the West Gray early voting place to open Monday, Oct. 22, 2018, in Houston. Photo: Godofredo A. Vasquez, Staff Photographer Photo: Godofredo A. Vasquez, Staff Photographer Image 1 of / 38 Caption Close Harris County smashes early voting record 1 / 38 Back to Gallery

Harris County residents on Monday set a new record for the first day of early voting in a midterm election, as 63,188 went to the polls to cast ballots.

The turnout smashed the previous mark, set in 2010, by more than 35,000 votes, and came on the same day both major party candidates for the U.S. Senate, Gov. Greg Abbott and President Donald Trump campaigned in downtown Houston.

An additional 52,413 voters have returned mail-in ballots, bringing the total figure to date to 115, 601.

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Harris County's tally eclipsed the first-day total in the 2008 and 2012 presidential elections, even though midterms typically draw far fewer voters. Fort Bend and Montgomery counties experienced similar surges.

"There are just incredible numbers of turnout today," Harris County Clerk Stan Stanart said. "Lines are moving, they're getting to vote, and they're getting on their way."

The crowds at the polls signal voters are enthusiastic, said University of Houston political science professor Brandon Rottinghaus, but which political party benefits remains to be seen. He said an increase in voter turnout usually boosts Democrats, but the early voting surge simply could show that more voters are choosing to avoid the hassles voting on Election Day can bring.

"Historically, turnout on the first day tends to be exaggerated," Rottinghaus said. "It's impossible to know which party faithful are voting, or if it's a surge in people who traditionally don't vote."

Across urban counties in Texas, residents rushed to vote early. Dallas County reported 42,000 ballots by the afternoon, and Travis County tallied more than 24,000 by 4 p.m. Bexar County had nearly 15,000 cast ballots by 1 p.m.

In Harris County, Stanart acknowledged that long lines formed at many of the county's 46 early voting stations, but said his office prepared for higher-than-average turnout by deploying additional voting machines. He said despite the volume, lines moved quickly.

The day began in the predawn twilight at the Metropolitan Multi-Service Center on West Gray, where more 2,000 voters waited for the polls to open at 8 a.m. Many arrived to cheer Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Beto O'Rourke, who made a campaign stop and spoke to supporters through a bullhorn.

In Pasadena around 11:15 a.m., Victoria Montoya waited in line with two-dozen other voters. She said her Mexican-American family has always supported Democrats and said Texas deserves a new senator in O'Rourke.

"You can't complain about something and not do anything about it, so that's why I'm out here voting," Montoya said as she pushed her one-year-old daughter, Brooklyn, in a stroller.

Behind her, Victor Mesuwan of South Houston admitted he had not cast a ballot since the Bush-Gore presidential contest in 2000. He said O'Rourke was the first candidate he felt he could relate to, and decided to support the El Paso Democrat.

In Acres Homes around 1:30 p.m., more than 30 voters stood in line at the polling station. Quentin Henderson, 24, said he was voting for the first time in a midterm election at the encouragement of his mother. Anderson said he wished more young people would vote, and said he has a group chat with friends in which they discuss candidates and issues. He described the first time he cast a ballot, in 2016, as a transformational experience.

"The first time I did it, I didn't cry, but it was emotional," Henderson said.

At some polling places, lines swelled as the day wore on. Shortly before 3 p.m. in Spring Branch, election workers at the Trini Mendenhall Community Center improvised a way to manage the crowd. A serpentine line of more than 200 voters weaved through the lobby and down corridors before making a loop-de-loop through a kitchen area. Voters at the end joked they had decided to vote early to avoid the Election Day throngs.

Retiree Susan Zak said casting a ballot was well worth the wait, as she was eager to support a pay raise for Houston firefighters. A straight-ticket Republican voter, Zak urged the government to stem illegal immigration, and said she was especially concerned about criminals and gang members slipping across the United States-Mexico border.

"I'm afraid for my grandchildren," she said.

Polls close at 4:30 p.m. in Harris County this week, depriving some residents of the opportunity to vote after work. Other large counties, including Bexar, Travis, Dallas and Tarrant, hold longer voting hours.

Stanart, the Harris County clerk, said his office is keeping the same schedule as previous midterm elections, but said his office plans to expand voting in upcoming elections.

"In the future, we're going to add new early voting locations," Stanart said. "I can see that need."

Thousands of residents also cast early ballots in adjacent counties. At the South Montgomery County Community Center in The Woodlands, voters braved a morning chill. Mary Ellis Johnson, who said she was a strong conservative, said she wants to see U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz re-elected and the Republican Party maintain control of Congress.

"We're in danger of losing big," Johnson said.

As lunchtime approached on the first day of early voting in Fort Bend County, the parking lot was full at the Missouri City Community Center as people filed inside.

James Scott, who has served as a voting clerk for a decade, said more than 150 people stood in line when the doors opened at 8 a.m. He said such heavy turnout was unusual, particularly for a midterm election.

Madeleine Howard, 49, was enthusiastic about the turnout as she exited the community center into the brisk October air. Howard, who lives in Richmond, stressed the importance of voting during local elections, noting how that spurs change at the national level.

"I just want to feel at home in the country where my sons were born," said Howard. "I have three beautiful black sons. I'm voting for them."

A steady stream of voters also were making their way into Stafford City Hall on Monday, Christian Martinez among them. The 24-year-old said he keeps up with politics but noticed a shift in his friends' interest as he texted them about the upcoming election.

"Funny enough, maybe like four years ago, they would've been like 'No, not really," Martinez said. "This one, everyone was already interested. I didn't have to say anything. That was a shock for me."

Hints of possible record turnout emerged in early October, when final voter registration totals revealed that more than 55,000 Harris County residents registered between March and October, a larger increase than any other Texas county. Over than same period, registration in Texas increased by roughly 400,000 voters to 15.7 million.

Early voting runs through Nov. 2 and Election Day is Nov. 6. Residents can find voting hours and polling locations at HarrisVotes.org.

Staff writers Brooke Lewis and Marialuisa Rincon contributed reporting from Montgomery and Fort Bend counties. Austin bureau reporter Jeremy Wallace contributed from Houston.

Zach Despart covers Harris County for the Chronicle. You can follow him on Twitter or email him at zach.despart@chron.com.