Texas Early Voting Tops 7.4 Million, Chasing the 2018 Midterm Mark

Texas Early Voting Tops 7.4 Million, Chasing the 2018 Midterm Mark

A Midterm Record 7.4 Million Ballots Cast Before Election Day

More than 7.4 million Texans voted early in the 2026 midterm election, according to preliminary figures from the Texas secretary of state's office. That is about 39% of the state's registered voters, a record number of early ballots for a Texas midterm and just short of the modern-day midterm turnout record set in 2018. Texas now has more than 19 million registered voters, up 2.2% from the November 2024 presidential election.

Officials Caution the Count Is Preliminary as Mail Ballots Arrive

State officials stress the tally is not final. Each county reports on its own schedule, and many had not yet uploaded their final in-person day when the figures were published. Mail-in ballots are expected to keep arriving and will add to the total, so the final early-vote count will only grow beyond 7.4 million.

Big Counties Lead as First-Day Records Fall Across the State

The surge was driven by the state's largest counties. Harris County, the state's most populous, saw more than 105,000 people vote on the first day of early voting, up about 66% from 63,000 on day one in 2018 and a county midterm record. Dallas County recorded more than 76,000 first-day voters, beating its 2018 mark of 59,000, and Dallas County's opening day topped every previous election including presidential years. By the close of early voting, Harris County had passed 1 million ballots, up 35% from the same point in 2018. Dallas County exceeded 607,880, up 23%. Tarrant County neared 572,000, up 32%. Collin County passed 374,000, up 38%. Denton County reached about 319,000, up 47%. Travis County topped 427,000, up 22%. Bexar County stood near 503,000, up 33%.

Far Above 2022 but Still Below Presidential-Year Intensity

The contrast with the last midterm is stark. In 2022, 5.5 million Texans voted early, a 31% turnout rate. But presidential years still draw more: 9 million voted early in 2024, a 49% rate, and 9.7 million in 2020, a 57% rate. The 2018 midterm early-vote rate stood just shy of 40%, so this year's roughly 39% nearly matches it, with a bigger population behind it.

Early Votes Decide Texas Elections as Election Day Share Shrinks

Early voting typically accounts for the vast majority of Texas ballots. In recent cycles only 15% to 26% of votes were cast on Election Day itself. The 7.4 million early ballots therefore decide the shape of the electorate, with Election Day serving mostly as a mop-up.

Urban Blue, Rural Red, and Independents Outnumbering Both

The partisan pattern splits by geography. More Democrats than Republicans voted early in urban counties, while Republicans led in suburban and rural areas. But independents, voters with no clear primary history, outnumbered both parties. Texas does not register voters by party, so analysts infer leanings from which party's primary a voter has joined. Some analysts say the early-vote mix gives Democrats an apparent turnout edge, forcing Republicans to lean more heavily on independents to win key races.

Election Day Is Tuesday With Polls Open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The formal Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, with polls open statewide from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time. Anyone in line by closing time is still allowed to vote. For those who missed early voting, it is the last chance.