Early voting totals in McLennan County are on a record pace so far this election cycle, compared to previous midterm elections, according to a tally kept by the county elections office.

Whether caused by fiercely contested gubernatorial and U.S. House races, enthusiasm among conservatives or just pleasant weather, turnout for the first four days is up 62 percent over 2006.

All five of the county’s early voting sites saw upticks, and the record numbers in McLennan County mirror turnout increases all over Texas.

A man enters an early voting site downtown.
Rod Aydelotte/Waco Tribune-Herald

The Waco Multi-Purpose Community Center on Elm Street in heavily Democratic East Waco saw the biggest percentage jump, with turnout more than tripling the number from four years ago.

But in terms of sheer numbers, the First Assembly of God Church on Bosque Boulevard had the most dramatic increase, drawing around 1,900 more voters than it did for the same period in 2006.

The West Waco site is in a Republican-heavy part of Waco and traditionally draws more voters than any of the other five sites.

In 2006, it accounted for 51 percent of all early ballots cast in the first four days of voting. In 2008, that percent dipped to 48, but it climbed to more than 56 percent so far this year.

The prevalence of people at certain early voting sites is an unscientific measure of how races are playing out, because registered voters can cast a ballot at any of the five sites.

Nevertheless, party officials and candidates scrutinize the early turnout numbers to get a sense of how elections are looking.

Good GOP turnout?

McLennan County Republican Party chairman Joe Hinton said he felt good about the numbers, as well as more anecdotal evidence of heavy GOP turnout.

At a recent Republican luncheon featuring first lady of Texas Anita Perry, Hinton said, the crowd of about 120 was asked if they had voted.

“Everybody in that room put their hand up,” he said.

“So things are looking pretty good,” he added, “No question about it.”

Democratic Party chairwoman Karen Petree said, “We were looking for higher numbers at the sites in East Waco and Lacy Lakeview.”

She pointed out, however, that Democrats have been voting at the West Waco site, including some relatives.

Petree said the party will shift gears next week “when our big push will be with working-age nine-to-five-ers,” because early voting sites are open until 7 p.m.

mshapiro@wacotrib.com

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