Travis County early voting: by the numbers

Travis County saw a decrease in 2024 early voting turnout compared to the 2020 presidential election, according to data released by the Travis County Clerk’s Office. The decrease comes as Travis County is seeing the highest number of registered voters of any presidential election.

The decrease in early voting was by roughly 92,000 early voters, dropping from 64.72% of registered voters casting their ballots during 2020 early voting to 51.93% in 2024. Despite that, this election has seen the second highest early voting turnout of any presidential election in Travis County’s history, behind only 2020. The last presidential election was an anomaly for voter turnout nationally, as voters adjusted their practices amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

The current number of voters registered in Travis County is the highest it has ever been. That number has seen an increase of 70,528 registered voters from 2020 to 2024, or 8.25%. 

Based on historical data, an increase in registered voters is not necessarily an indicator of increased total voter turnout for an election.

Higher early voting numbers have correlated directly with higher total voter turnout in every presidential election in Travis County since 1988. If that holds true this year, Travis County may see a reduction in total voter turnout compared to 2020. 

It’s also worth noting that the population of Travis County is estimated to have increased 3.53%, or 45,759 people, from 2020 to 2024.

The only decreases in total voter turnout — and subsequently, early voting turnout — In Travis County have been recorded in years where a Democratic president is running for reelection. From 1992 to 1996, when Bill Clinton ran for his second term, there was a 10.77% decrease in voter turnout, despite a 30.16% increase in voter registration. Similarly, from 2008 to 2012, when Barack Obama vied for reelection, there was a 3.3% decrease in voter turnout, despite a 3.5% increase in voter registration.

Both candidates won their races despite lower turnout in Travis County. 

While this year is not technically a consecutively served reelection for either candidate, Donald Trump is seeking his second term overall, and Kamala Harris has been targeted as a “semi-incumbent” due to her role as vice president in the Biden administration. It’s a matchup that hasn’t been seen before in multiple ways.

In Travis County, 460,527 voters cast their ballots during early voting this year, not including those that utilized mail-in ballots or completed limited ballots for statewide candidates. The largest turnout was seen on the first day of early voting, Oct. 21, and the second highest was on the final day of early voting, Nov. 1. The lowest day was on Sunday, Oct. 27. 

Polling locations in Travis County have the most limited hours on Sundays, with sites open from 12 p.m. – 6 p.m. as opposed to the usual 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. hours. The second lowest day was Oct. 26. Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 held extended hours at eight polling locations across the county, remaining open until 10 p.m. for a total of six extra hours of voting availability per site.

During early voting, Travis County had 42 polling locations over 12 days. On election day, 176 polling locations are scheduled to be open across the county. 

The Pflugerville ISD Rock Gym polling center saw the highest early voting turnout, with 21,449 voters accounting for 4.7% of early voting ballots cast in the county. The gym was followed by Bee Cave City Hall with 4.5% and Ben Hur Shrine Center with 4.4%. 

The least popular site was the Anita Ferrales Coy Facility, with 1,816 voters accounting for only 0.4% of early votes. The facility was followed by the Travis County Civil and Family Courts Facility, one of the closest polling sites to the UT campus, with 0.6% and the Cepeda Branch Library with 0.8%. 

The average number of voters per site over the 12 days was 10,965, meaning on average, roughly 913 voters visited each site per day. 

UT’s central polling site at the Texas Union, which moved this year from the Flawn Academic Center where it’s been housed previously, greeted 15,581 voters during early voting, roughly 1,298 per day on average, accounting for 3.4% of early voting ballots cast in the county. 

The other polling site on the UT campus, housed at the LBJ School of Public Affairs, processed a far lower 6,776 ballots over 12 days, averaging only 564 votes per day. 

Election day is Nov. 5, with all 176 polling locations in Travis County open from 7 a.m.- 7 p.m. Any voter in line by 7 p.m. will be allowed to cast their ballot. A full list of polling locations is available online through the Travis County Elections website. Voters in Travis County can vote at any polling location in the county. 

TSTV News will analyze data from election day and provide a breakdown of this election’s total turnout once the data is released. 

For live coverage of the election, tune in to TSTV News’ “Election Night in Texas,” where the TSTV News team will be reporting the results as they come in and analyzing the issues defining this year’s election. Follow along our live updates online at tstvnews.wpengine.com and across our social media platforms.