Nearly 35% of registered voters in Bandera County had cast ballots by the end of early voting, with 6,710 voters participating ahead of the Nov. 3 general election.
According to county figures through Oct. 28, Bandera County had 19,330 registered voters. A total of 6,379 had voted in person during early voting, while 331 ballots had been recorded through mail-in voting. Combined, those figures represent 34.71% of registered voters.
The local turnout comes as millions of Texans cast ballots in an election featuring competitive statewide races and contested local offices.
More than 4.5 million Texans had voted in person or by mail through Oct. 25, the first seven days of early voting, according to data reported by the Texas secretary of state. That represented approximately 23.8% of the state's roughly 19 million registered voters.
Statewide turnout during the first week was slightly below the pace set during the 2018 midterm election, when 24.3% of registered voters had cast ballots at the same point, but higher than the nearly 16% recorded during the first week of early voting in 2022.
Bandera County's reported early-voting percentage is higher than the statewide figure for that initial period, although the reporting dates differ.
Contested local races
Voters in Bandera County will decide several contested local races on Nov. 3, including the race for Bandera mayor.
Denise Griffin, Cindy Coffey and Timothy Galarnyk are competing for the mayor's office.
Two candidates are seeking the at-large director position on the Bandera County River Authority and Groundwater District. Rebeca Gibson and Kevin Meier are listed on the ballot for the position.
The Justice of the Peace Precinct 3 race also features a contest between Leah A. Peterson and Charly Seale.
Other county and local positions on the ballot are unopposed. These include several county offices, four river authority and groundwater district precinct director positions, and two Bandera City Council seats.
Allen Jehle and Randi Mellon are the unopposed candidates for the two City Council positions, according to the published county voters guide.
Election Day approaching Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at designated polling locations.
Early voting ran Oct. 19-30, with voting available at the Bandera County Annex, Lakehills Area Library and Medina Annex. Additional weekend voting hours were offered at the Bandera County Annex.
Voters who have not yet cast a ballot can do so on Election Day at their designated polling location. Voters should confirm their polling place and review their ballot before heading to the polls.
The county's final turnout will depend on Election Day participation and the completion of ballot processing. Early-voting figures are unofficial and may be updated as election officials reconcile and report totals.
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