Texas and New York Report Record Early Voting Turnout

Election officials across Texas and New York report record-breaking early voting turnout for the 2026 election cycle. In New York, nearly 2 million ballots were cast early, marking a 66.72% increase over the 2022 midterms. Saratoga County saw the most significant growth, with early voting nearly doubling to 30,786 votes.

In Texas, Troy Havard, the Lubbock County Elections Administrator, reported that approximately 80,935 residents voted early, the highest midterm turnout in 20 years. Havard expects an equal or greater number of voters to participate on Election Day. To ensure security, Lubbock County officials implemented serialized tracking seals on voting machines, a process monitored by both major political parties.

Webb County also exceeded expectations, with more than 46,000 early ballots cast against initial estimates of 43,000. Webb County Elections Administrator Jose Luis Castillo anticipates another 15,000 voters will participate on Tuesday. To facilitate access, Webb County provided ballots in English and Spanish and ensured all equipment is ADA-compliant.

Polls in these regions are scheduled to be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, November 3, with Texas voters required to present approved photo identification.