(Seguin) — The first week of early voting for the November 3 General Election couldn’t have gone better. That’s according to Lisa Hayes, the Guadalupe County elections administrator.
Hayes says she has not only been impressed with the voter experience but the overall turnout of people coming out to exercise their civic duty.
“This past week has been an absolute whirlwind and the voter turnout has been tremendous. We have been busy non-stop. It’s been great. The voters have been really patient for the most part with standing in line. We always try to do enough staffing and putting machines out there and everything so voters don’t have to stand in line for very long but the voter response to this early voting opportunity has been epic and so there’s a line every morning when we open. The lines tend to come and go throughout the day. There’s been a couple of times where we really didn’t have a line but the voters have been turning out. They’ve been really patient overall and they seem very pleased with our sanitation and efforts and it’s been a great first week. It’s been incredibly busy but that’s good because that means the voters are coming out to vote and that’s what we are happy to see,” said Hayes.
Hayes says while there have, of course, been reported lines at various polling locations, those lines have been moving fairly quickly.
“I know the voters may feel differently but when we ask periodically ‘how long has the line taken?’ And, we get anywhere from even minutes to on the first day, we had an hour and three quarters in some places. But, it’s not taken the voters as long to vote on the ballots as we were afraid it would. We were afraid without straight party that it would take a long time at the voting machines. So the voters are not taking very long. I think they are doing their research ahead of time. They are coming in with their voter guides and they are moving through fairly quickly,” said Hayes.
At the end of Sunday, the total number of ballots cast in Guadalupe County were 30, 219. This includes the number of mail ballots received.
Now while she can’t fairly compare the first week of early voting to that of the last presidential race, she does know it is running with the same momentum.
“I looked at the numbers from 2016. I am not taking into account the mail ballots which have been astronomical but just the in person turnout, in 2016 for the first week — keeping in mind it was 12 hour days that week — the first week, we finished 62 voters ahead of this week we just finished. That was largely eight hour days and one day short of a full week. It’s not really apples to apples but I think we are seeing a tremendous turnout and I think that’s just going to continue because we still have two more weeks of early voting. This next week will be easier to compare to last year because this week will be 12 hour days except for Sunday and that’s what the second week of early voting usually is so I think that will give us a better comparison because we are looking at the same number of hours and the same number of days. So, it will be interesting to see. But the voters are definitely coming out in droves. It’s fantastic,” said Hayes.
Although things are running smoothly, Hayes this week is sending a reminder to those who still need to come in and cast their ballot.
“We would like to remind the voters not to wear political clothing out to the poles. It’s illegal. It’s what’s considered electioneering which is wearing any campaign and political related items within 100 feet of the polling locations. We’ve had some voters that gave us a little bit of pushback about taking off their political party mask or their t-shirts and things like that and so, it’s really important for the voters to abide by the laws. There’s no recording devices within 100 feet of the polls so while I appreciate them wanting to take a selfie with our Vote Early sign, it’s illegal and we have to ask them to stop when we come out and see them doing it and they are not happy with us but it’s not because we don’t want them to have fun while they are at the polls. It’s the law and we need to be fair with everyone across the board and the only way we can do that is to enforce the laws. So, I would ask the voters to keep that in mind when they come to the polls. I know it’s exciting. You want to get dressed up for the candidate you are voting for but the law is the law and we have to abide by it so I would ask that they be mindful of that,” said Hayes.
Although a majority of voters are showing up in person, Hayes says much of the planning for the elections office has been with the request and delivery of mail ballots.
“Main ballots can still be hand delivered in person to the main early voting locations which is the 215 S. Milam Elections Office. They can be hand delivered. The voter can bring back only their ballot and have that photo ID but those voters are still bringing those in. We are still getting them everyday and if that’s how the voters are comfortable deliver their mail ballot, then we want to encourage them to do that. If they are more comfortable putting it in the mail, they can do that as well. But, they can also exchange it for an in-person experience if they like at any one of our early voting locations. So, that’s one option, quite a few voters are taking advantage of,” said Hayes.
This Friday is also an important date for those wanting to apply for a mail ballot. Hayes says those applications must be delivered by mail and received in the elections office by that day.
“If voters are looking to still request a ballot by mail, the application for ballot by mail must be in our office by Oct. 23 — not postmarked but in our office by Oct. 23 and they can not be hand delivered. The applications must come through the mail at this point. They can be emailed and faxed also but then there’s additional requirements if voters choose to do that but they can not hand deliver an application for a ballot by mail any longer since early voting has started,” said Hayes.
Guadalupe County voters are reminded that despite where they live, they can vote at any of the nine early voting locations in the county. Curbside voting is also available to any voter, who has difficulty walking or standing for long periods of time or who has signs or symptoms of COVID-19. Those needing an election judge to meet them outside to cast their ballot are asked to call 830-303-6363.
Early voting locations include the Seguin Elections Office, Cibolo Fire Station Number 2, Central Texas Technology Center in New Braunfels, Grace Church in New Braunfels, New Berlin City Hall, the Schertz Elections Office, the county’s annex building in Schertz, the Seguin ISD Administration Building and at Selma City Hall.
Early voting hours through this Saturday have been expanded to 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday’s hours will be from 1 to 6 p.m.
Hours will be expanded next week from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 19 through Saturday, Oct. 24; and from 1 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 25.
The last week of early voting runs Monday, October 26 through Friday, October 30th. Polls will be open that week from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The election day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.