Early voting began and started strong in Denton County on Monday.
A steady stream of voters heading in and out of polling locations in Denton County added up to 5,367 ballots cast as residents made gubernatorial decisions for the state on down to fracking ban decisions locally in Denton and several races in between.
“That’s a good thing, that’s what we’re looking for,” said Lannie Noble, Denton County elections administrator.
Back in the 2010 midterm election, 4,084 ballots were cast in Denton County on the first day of early voting.
Noble said that there were no issues on day one from either supporters or opponents of propositions staying at their appropriate distances at the polls or any issues with voter identification requirements.
Proponents and opponents of the proposed ban on hydraulic fracturing in Denton set up outside the Denton Civic Center on Monday, one of the county’s 21 early voting locations.
Voters could pick up yard signs indicating their support either for or against the ban.
Two men passing out signs against the ban, paid for by Denton Taxpayers for a Strong Economy, a specific-purpose committee formed against the ban, declined to identify themselves or answer any questions, other than to say the morning had been “slow.”
Carol Soph, of Pass the Ban, a specific-purpose committee formed in support of the ban, arrived at the Civic Center at 7:30 a.m., 30 minutes before the polls opened. She said that people have been receptive.
“We’ll be here all week and next week,” Soph said. “Unless it rains.”
A record high 14,025,441 Texans have registered to vote in time for Election Day. The previous record came in 2012 when 13,646,226 registered to vote.
In Denton County, 11,662 people have registered to vote since July 15. About 30 percent of those newly registered voters live in Denton. Local efforts to register young voters may have contributed to that increase, particularly at the University of North Texas and Texas Woman’s University.
There was a slight connection problem at one polling site, but Noble said it did not effect the voting process and workers had it corrected quickly.
“We’re one day down and 11 more to go and then on to Election Day,” he said. “Hopefully, the voters will continue to come out and express their opinions and make the decisions that have to be made on who is going to represent us and how they want the propositions to be decided.”
BJ LEWIS can be reached at 940-566-6875 and via Twitter at @bjlewisDRC.
PEGGY HEINKEL-WOLFE can be reached at 940-566-6881 and via Twitter at @phwolfeDRC.
