Campaign signs dominate the entrance to the Jefferson County Courthouse in Beaumont, one of 10 locations for Early Voting.
With 10 locations and no precinct restrictions, there is "no excuse" for Jefferson County registered voters not to take advantage of early voting, said the county's top election official.
According to Jefferson County Clerk Carolyn Guidry, many residents are heading to the polls for early voting this year.
A high profile race for governor between incumbent Republican Rick Perry and Democratic challenger Bill White -- as well as two county-wide races and two justice of the peace precinct races -- are the likely reasons behind the increased early voting numbers.
"In the last gubernatorial election in 2006, voter turnout was at 30 percent," Guidry told a meeting of the Press Club of Southeast Texas today. "Of that 30 percent, 46 percent voted early, with 36 percent voting on Election Day. But that trend is changing."
For the 2008 presidential election, Guidry said 59 percent of Jefferson County's 150,000 registered voters went to the polls, and 72 percent of those voters didn't wait until Election Day.
This week, there have been 9,450 early ballots cast in the first three days of the early voting period, which runs until Oct. 29.
"That's a 33 percent increase from 2006 at this same point in time," Guidry said. "That's probably about 45 percent of the total voter turnout."
She estimates the county could see around 37,800 votes cast during early voting.
"It may be even higher," she said. "Numbers often double in the last three days of the early voting period."
For example, Guidry said the polling location at Rogers Park in Beaumont has been getting about 800 voters a day, but election workers are preparing for 1,500 at the end of next week.
To vote early, registered voters can go to any of the 10 polling places across Jefferson County regardless of which precinct they reside in, unlike on Election Day. And polls will be open on one Saturday during the early voting period as well, Guidry said.
"Someone said old timers call this 'no excuse' voting. I agree!" she said.
NOTICE OF EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS AND HOURS FOR
November 2, 2010, GENERAL AND SPECIAL ELECTIONS
(Avisodelocales y horarioparaelecciónsadelantadasdeNoviembre2, 2010 del
ElecciónsGeneralesySpeciales)
Early Voting by personal appearance will be conducted each weekday at:
(La votaciónadelantadaen persona se llevaráa cabode lunesa viernesen:)
EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS:
(Localizacionesde VotacionAdelantada):
Beaumont Courthouse-Main location 1001 Pearl St., Beaumont, Texas
Port Arthur Sub-Courthouse 525 Lakeshore Dr., Port Arthur, Texas
Rogers Park Recreation Center 1455 DowlenRd, Beaumont, Texas
Port Arthur Public Library 4615 Ninth Ave, Port Arthur, Texas
Theodore Johns Library 4255 Fannett Rd., Beaumont, Texas
North-End Community Center 3580 E. Lucas, Beaumont, Texas
Nederland Recreation Center 2301 Avenue H, Nederland, Texas
Groves City Hall 3947 Lincoln Ave., Groves, Texas
Precinct One Service Center 20205 W. Hwy. 90, China, Texas
Effie & Wilton Hebert Library 2025 Merriman St., Port Neches, Texas
DATES AND HOURS FOR ALL LOCATIONS ABOVE :
(Fechasy Horasparatodaslaslocalizaciones):
October 18 -22, 2010 Monday –Friday 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
(Octubre18 -22) (Lunes-Viernes)
October 23, 2010 Saturday 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.
(Octubre23) (Sábado)
October 24, 2010 Sunday 12:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m.
(Octubre24) (Domingo)
October 25 -29 Monday –Friday 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.
(Octubre25 -29) (Lunes–Viernes)
DATES AND HOURS FOR THE LOCATIONS BELOW:
BevilOaks Civic Center 7390 SweetgumLn., BevilOaks, Tx.
October 23, 2010 Saturday 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.
(Octubre23) (Sábado)
October 24, 2010 Sunday 12:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m.
(Octubre24) (Domingo)
Queen Of Vietnam Church –St. Joseph Hall 801 9th Ave, Port Arthur, Tx
October 24, 2010 Sunday 7:00a.m. until 3:00 p.m.
(Octubre24) (Domingo)