GEORGETOWN — The number of Williamson County voters casting early ballots in the 2024 presidential election has surpassed totals set in 2020, officials said.
Nearly half of the county’s 445,326 registered electorate — 218,769 people, or 49.11% — have already voted as of Oct. 30.
Officials said this is a marked increase from the early voting total four years ago of 121,489 during the last U.S. contest to select a president.
The rise in early voting continues a trend in recent elections, as more voters opt to avoid lines and long wait times on Election Day, analysts said.
Across Texas, counties including Hays and Travis have also reported notable upticks in early voter turnout.
To accommodate the high turnout, Williamson County requested 305 additional ballot boxes but received just 65, officials said.
In response, county officials developed an alternative ballot box design, approved by the Texas Secretary of State.
Meanwhile, Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell said totals indicate Republicans outnumbered Democrats in early voting tallies.
Gravell also told Austin television station KVUE that off-duty sheriff’s deputies will provide heightened security at polling sites. Deputies will deliver ballot boxes to polling locations and some will be “roaming through the different voting precincts, certainly not interfering with elections,” he said.
Tensions are running high after a voter last week reportedly attacked a poll worker in Bexar County, officials said.
Early voting ran from Oct. 21 to Nov. 1.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5, with most polls opening at 7 a.m. and closing at 7 p.m.
For more information on polling sites, visit VoteTexas.gov.
The Taylor Press will carry up-to-the minute voting coverage on its Facebook page at facebook. com/GoTaylorTx/ and website at taylorpress.net.
