by VERONICA GORDON
Historically, runoff elections don’t attract many voters, said Hays County Elections Administrator Joyce Cowan. And Tuesday’s election seems to be the same story.
Early voting began Monday and ends Friday, July 27. Election Day is Tuesday, July 31.
Cowan is hoping for 50 percent of the overall turnout from the primary election held in May.
By Monday afternoon, Kyle early voting locations reported 41 votes. In Dripping Springs, 75 residents had cast ballots. The Hays County Government Center in San Marcos reported 56 voters and Wimberley polling locations were visited by 53 residents.
“We’ve seen good numbers for early voting,” Cowan said. “Of course there’s more interest in the Republican side because of the senate race.”
Incumbent District 25 State Senator Jeff Wentworth is in a runoff with Donna Campbell. There are several other Republican races with runoffs, including local district judge, 22nd Judicial District between Bruce Boyer and David Glickler.
The Democratic primary runoff only has one race for U.S. Senator between Grady Yarbrough and Paul Sadler.
Hays County Commissioners recently added a one-day polling location at Buda City Hall, 121 Main Street, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, July 27, to the lineup of previously approved early voting locations in order to encourage more voters to cast their ballots.
Countywide, only 5,132 votes were cast in person during early voting in the May primary election out of more than 14,000 votes cast in all. There are nearly 100,000 registered voters in Hays County.
On election day voters will need to go to their specific precinct location and should check their precinct number on their voter registration cards to ensure they go to the correct location on that day.
Cowan reminds voters that anyone eligible to vote an early ballot by personal appearance can do so at any of the locations in Hays County.
“Whether you are commuting to work, running errands or making a specific trip to vote in the runoff election, you have your choice of voting places in Hays County,” Cowan said.
