Last Day to Vote in the Primary Runoff which is Breaking Records in Voter Turnout

Houston, TX –“With turnout records being broken, Friday is the Last Day to Vote Early for the Primary Runoff Election” said Stan Stanart, Harris County Clerk and Chief Elections Officer, making one last appeal to voters to vote early.  Polls on Friday, July 27, will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the 37 early voting locations throughout the county. 

 “I invite all eligible voters to avoid the confusion that the reduction of Election Day voting locations may create and take advantage of the last day to vote early,” asserted Stanart.  Expecting a lower voter turnout, the Democratic and Republican Parties reduced the number of Election Day Polling locations for the Runoff Elections.

Republicans will have 68 Polling locations while Democrats will have 78.  However, on Election Day, voters must vote at the election day voting location for their precinct.  Voters can look up their voting day location at www.HarrisVotes.com.  Voters who did not vote in the May 29 Primary are eligible to cast a ballot in one of the Primary Runoff Elections.  But, if a voter voted on May 29 and is planning to vote in a Runoff Election, he or she cannot cross over and vote in a different party’s Primary Runoff. 

“Based on the voting results so far this week, more voters have participated in this election than the total number of voters who participated in the Primary Runoff elections of 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2010,” said Stanart. “I am excited to see citizens engaged in the election process and letting their voice be heard.”

As of Thursday afternoon, July 26, over 65,000 voters have participated in this primary runoff election with two full days of voting yet to go, including Election Day.  In comparison, 58,239 total voters participated in the 2010 Runoff Election, 50,217, in 2008, 24,254 in 2006 and 30,072 in 2004. In the Republican Primary Runoff there are eight contests, featuring the hotly contested U.S. Senate seat vacated by Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison.  In the Democratic Primary there are six contests also headed by the U.S. Senate race.  In both Primaries there are several Precinct Chairman races that will also be decided.

Over 39,000 ballots by mail have been requested from the Harris County Clerk’s Office for these elections, with over 23,000 already returned.  Except for Military and Overseas voters, all mail voters must return their mail ballots to the County Clerk’s Office by 7 p.m. on Election Day.

For a complete list of Early Voting locations and a list of credentials which may be used for identification at the polls, please visit the Harris County Clerk’s Election website at www.harrisvotes.com. For more information, voters may also call 713.755.6965 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.