Cuero, Texas Oct 24, 2024 Cuero Online News
Early voting is in full swing in Dewitt County, and the excitement among voters is unmistakable. On the first day of early voting, a few residents eagerly waited outside the election office, ready to make their voices heard as soon as the doors opened. Fortunately, the lines moved quickly, allowing many to cast their ballots without a lengthy wait.
As of Monday, the early voting count reached an impressive 830 voters, reflecting a strong community response. The following day, Tuesday, saw a slight dip in numbers, with 691 voters participating. In total, Dewitt County received 229 mail-in ballots, demonstrating a solid interest in this election cycle.
Reflecting on the elections, Dewitt County has seen significant fluctuations in voter turnout.
- 2012 General Election Dewitt County had 11,943 registered voters with 3,615 early voters, and 6,625 actual voters. (Source: Secretary of State)
- 2016 General Election Dewitt County had 11,856 registered voters with 4,094 early voters, and 6,822 actual voters. (Source: Secretary of State)
- 2020 General Election Dewitt County had 12,094 registered voters with 6229 early voters, and 8,118 actual voters. (Source: Secretary of State)
Currently, Dewitt County has a total of approximately 12,700 registered voters. Among these, party affiliation reveals a notable divide: about 5,500 are registered Republicans, while approximately 3,200 are registered Democrats. The remaining 4000 voters are either affiliated with other parties or are registered as independents
With early voting underway and a considerable number of mail-in ballots yet to be issued, a strong turnout is anticipated for this election cycle. Voters are urged to utilize the early voting period for its added flexibility and convenience, to ensure their voices are counted in this vital democratic process.
Election Commission, remaining dates:
Early Voting: Friday, Oct 25, 2024- 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (Also last day to apply for a ballot by mail.)
Early Voting: Saturday, Oct 26, 2024- 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Early Voting: Sunday, Oct 27, 2024- 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Early Voting: Monday, Oct 28, 2024- 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Early Voting: Tuesday, Oct 29, 2024- 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Early Voting: Wednesday, Oct 30, 2024- 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Early Voting: Thursday, Oct 31, 2024- 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Early Voting: Friday, Nov 1, 2024- 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Election Day will be Tuesday, Nov. 5, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Dewitt County is a Countywide polling. This means that you can vote at any polling place on election day, even if it’s not in your precinct.
Texas is an ‘open’ Primary Election state. Which is to say, citizens do not declare a political party affiliation when they register to vote. Other states may have a party affiliation associated with the voter’s registration.
In Texas, registered voters may vote in either the Republican Primary Election or the Democratic Primary Election and, in so doing, they will pledge not to interfere in the other political party’s political convention process. Registered voters may even choose not to participate in the political party primary election process.
In November, registered voters are free to choose among the Republican or the Democratic nominees, or lesser known political party nominees, regardless of the party’s primary election of which they may have previously cast a ballot. Registered voters are free to cast a ballot even if they did not participate in the political party primary election process.
Therefore, the statements in this article regarding the number of registered Republicans and registered Democrats is somewhat misleading.
At best, in this instance, all a person can say is that X (number) of registered voters participated in the Republican Primary Election in De Witt County and X (number) of registered voters participated in the Democratic Primary Election in De Witt County.
I hope this clears things up for the people who have either voted or intend to vote in the 2024 General Election.
Dear Mr. Daryl Fowler,
Thank you for your comment regarding the article on voter participation in Dewitt County, Texas. I appreciate your perspective and would like to clarify some points to ensure a better understanding of the topic.
Firstly, Texas is indeed an open primary state, which means that when citizens register to vote, they do not have to declare a political party affiliation. This allows registered voters the freedom to participate in elections without being tied to a specific party. The above article presented data on voter participation in the general elections, where all registered voters can choose among candidates from any party, regardless of their previous voting behavior in primaries. This key aspect highlights the accessibility of the electoral process in Texas and the ability of voters to make independent choices in the general election. While it’s true that registered voters can vote for candidates from any party in the general election, the numbers reported in the published article, “Early Voting Continues in DeWitt County, Texas: A Strong Turnout Expected”, indicate the level of potential participation among registered Republicans and Democrats. This information is relevant for understanding the overall voter engagement and can help inform discussions about the political landscape in Texas.
I understand your concerns about the potential for misleading interpretations of the data. However, my intention was to present factual participation rates in the general elections without implying that all registered voters are affiliated with a specific party or restricted in their voting choices. In fact, that was not the topic of the article.
I encourage all voters to engage actively in the electoral process and to seek a deeper understanding of how the system works. Informed voters are better equipped to make decisions that reflect their values and priorities.
Thank you again for your feedback, and I hope this clarification helps clear up any misunderstandings.
Best regards,
Management, Cuero Online News