(Seguin) — Guadalupe County Election officials are taking a look back at voter participation following the March 3 Joint Republican and Democratic Primary Election. The look back comes after the county formally canvassed the results on Thursday.
According to Interim Elections Administrator Michelle Shields, the county’s Elections Office, turnout figures show how many residents took advantage of both early voting and Election Day opportunities to cast their ballots in the primary contests — contests that help determine party nominees for upcoming races.
Shields also compared this year’s turnout to previous primary elections. She says voter participation in the March 3 election for the most part stacked up against past contests.
“For the primary election, the voter turnout was about 23.56 percent. So, in the last election for 2024, it was 124,250 voters. And then this year, we had 134,178 registered voters. So, it’s a little higher than the 2024 primary. So, you know, that was a good thing. We saw the voters coming out to vote this round and we appreciate everyone who took the time to come out and vote also,” said Shields.
In addition to turnout numbers, Shields reported that the election process itself went smoothly.
She credits poll workers and election staff for helping ensure a successful voting period across the county’s polling locations.
“It went well. It went well. I mean, of course, it could have been, there’s always little things like the lines were too long, maybe went a little too slow. People forget it’s (also)because the ballots were a little longer and people want to take their time to read those, you know, propositions and all that. So, we give those people the time and not rush them. So that’s what really took the longest is the line — nothing else –of course, electronic poll books, but, you know, we’re kind of at the mercy of technology on those things. But other than that, everything went pretty smoothly,” said Shields.
The last official step in the process for the Primary election took place Thursday afternoon. The Notice of Canvass for Guadalupe County indicates the local canvass of ballots — the formal review and certification of the election.