Early voting in Bexar County has surged to unprecedented levels this election cycle, with records after records being shattered. Through the first five days of voting, a striking 241,655 ballots have been cast according to reports from KENS 5, an astonishing 18.6% of registered voters in Bexar County making their voice heard. In an environment thick with the anticipation of the faceoff between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, this turnout speaks volumes.
Jacque Callanen, the seasoned Bexar County elections administrator, in an interview by KENS 5. The turnout so far represents nearly 32.3% of all early votes cast in the 2020 election and 40.4% of early votes in 2016, as per the MySA report. The lines have been long, with some residents waiting several hours to vote and polling places across the northern part of San Antonio witnessing the highest traffic.
Despite the record turnout, officials ensure that once voters are in line, they will have the opportunity to cast their ballot that day. A fact echoed by Jacquelyn Callanen, as "once you’re in line, you’re guaranteed a chance to vote that day" even if it's past the cutoff time, according to a MySA report. The highly contentious nature of this election has also led to some unfortunate incidents, with an alleged assault at Johnston Library on Thursday evening when a voter was reminded of Texas election rules prohibiting campaigning within the polling place.
As Bexar County continues its steady march towards potentially record-breaking voter turnout, Sheriff Javier Salazar appealed to the public to remain civil at the polls. "There’s no sense picking up a criminal case, or injuring somebody in the name of politics. We can’t tolerate it,” Salazar told KENS 5. Voters looking to avoid long wait times might consider heading to less crowded locations such as Macedonia Baptist Church, the Southside ISD Administration Building, and the East Central ISD Administration building, which have been reported to have some of the shortest lines.
