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Texas early voting hits 6.3 million, up 50%

By Drooid · Oct 30, 2026 · How we work

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Summary

Early voting in Texas reached over 6.3 million, a 50 % increase from 2022.
Republican Vice President JD Vance visited North Texas on Oct 29 2026 urging GOP turnout.
Texas Comptroller Don Huffines warned Republicans that early-voting trends disadvantage them.
Early-voting data show about 70,000 more ballots from voters with Democratic primary histories than Republican.
Harris County recorded 862,700 early votes, up from 564,500 at the same 2022 point.

History

Since the late 1960s Texas moved from a Democratic-dominated Solid South to a Republican stronghold, a shift cemented by the 1990s when Republicans held all statewide offices. Demographic growth and urbanization have made elections increasingly competitive since 2016, and by 2024 99.5 % of voters use paper-ballot systems. The 2026 early-voting surge reflects this evolving turnout landscape.

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Since the late 1960s Texas moved from a Democratic-dominated Solid South to a Republican stronghold, a shift cemented by the 1990s when Republicans held all statewide offices. Demographic growth and urbanization have made elections increasingly competitive since 2016, and by 2024 99.5 % of voters use paper-ballot systems. The 2026 early-voting surge reflects this evolving turnout landscape.

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