Turnout for the first day of early voting in Potter and Randall counties this was was down nearly 40% compared to the 2018 midterm elections.
This decrease was more pronounced in Potter County, which reported only 1,041 early votes cast on Monday compared to 1,821 votes on the first day of early voting in 2018, a 42.8% decrease.
Randall also saw a lower turnout, with only 2,441 ballots cast on Monday compared to 3,726 on the first day of early voting in 2018, a 34.5% decrease.
Similar trends have been seen across the state. Harris county, the most populous county in the state, recorded 63,188 votes on the first day of early voting in 2018. On Monday, only 60,857. While this decrease is smaller than has been seen locally, Harris County does have intense local elections occurring. A larger decrease can be seen in Lubbock County, which had 9,191 votes cast on the first day of early voting in 2018 compared to only 5,733 on Monday.
The numbers for this year are up significantly from the 2021 election, however. On the first day of early voting last year, 106 ballots were cast in Potter County and 188 were cast in Randall. However, in 2021, no candidates were on Amarillo ballots, only state constitution amendments and a failed city tax hike ratification.
If you haven’t voted yet, be sure to check out our voter guide by clicking here before heading to the polls.