Early voting surges in Harris County (Texas), across the state

[Tx4obama]

The excerpt below is from: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7258583.html

After four days of early voting, numbers are up sharply in Harris County and across the state, prompting analysts to suggest that Texans are getting used to the convenience, are enthusiastic about their candidates or both.

"We're experiencing tremendously high turnout, both in-person and mail ballots," said Kevin Mauzy, deputy Harris County clerk. "The numbers rival what we did two years ago in a presidential election."

In Harris County, the 2010 numbers are running three times higher than in 2006 and are approaching figures for 2008. Analysts suggested local voters may be getting a head-start because of publicity about the long ballot and about the August fire that destroyed all of the county's voting machines.

Through the first four days, 138,349 local voters cast ballots: 104,420 in person and 33,929 more via mail. According to the Texas secretary of state's office, through the first three days, 316,000 people voted early across Texas, compared with 157,000 at the same point in 2006. In Dallas, Tarrant, Bexar and Travis counties, the numbers are up significantly, although they are not as high as the 2008 presidential election.

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Remember that here in Texas, in the 2008 election Obama won the majority of our big cities/counties: Austin/Travis, Dallas/Dallas, Houston/Harris, El Paso, SanAntonio/Bexar, etc. (McCain walked away with Ft.Worth/Tarrant)
We have a HUGE amount of Democrats registered down here in our urban cites, so I am really hoping a good percentage of them will come out and vote :) Fingers and toes are crossed!

[Qutzupalotl]

1. This could be a good sign.

I saw something on DU about Texas right-wing voter suppression efforts or intimidation at the polls. Early voting should be a way to get around tactics like that, or at least make them more difficult.

Also, the makeup of several districts might have shifted since the influx of displaced Katrina victims.

[sonias]

2. Come on Harris County!

We're all hoping you turn blue this year. When Harris turns blue - it is all over for the repukes in Texas! They will be left by the way side.

:bounce::bounce::bounce:

Sonia