HD 29: Early Vote Turnout Called ‘Low’ Although Some Boxes Hold Surprises

Brazoria County’s The Facts newspaper has an interesting report on turnout in the HD 29 special election set for Tuesday [emphasis mine]:

Candidates in the Tuesday’s special emergency election for District 29 state representative have been making a lot of phone calls, setting up Web sites and knocking on a lot of doors.

Despite their efforts though, turnout for the election in early voting was low compared to the numbers from early voting in the general election.

Four candidates are vying for the spot left vacant by Glenda Dawson, who died in September following a short illness. Dawson won 60 percent of the vote during the November general election, spurring Gov. Rick Perry to call the special election.

In Brazoria County, 2,223 voters cast their ballots in the first four days of early voting compared to the 4,506 votes cast in the same locations in the first four days of the general election early voting.

But the east Pearland voting box during early voting has generated the same or even more votes than it did during early voting in the general election, which stunned Brazoria County’s lead elections clerk Susan Cloudt.

“I was surprised with the people being busy with Christmas shopping,” she said. “I think it’s the (candidates’) grassroots efforts getting people out to vote.”

Democrat Dr. Anthony DiNovo (D-Pearland) faces Republicans John Gorman, Randy Weber and Mike O’Day, all of Pearland in tomorrow’s contest.

The Bay City Tribune from Matagorda County has more on turnout there:

Voters will choose among four Pearland candidates for District 29 state representative in the special election from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 19.

A total of 436 early votes — including 111 votes Friday — were cast during the five-day early voting period that ended Friday, said County Clerk Gail Denn.

Total voter turnout is hard to predict, Denn said, because of the unusual ballot.

I believe that, in elections like this, Democrats have an edge when it comes to turnout.

Tweet This Post   Ping This Post

Bookmark It