More than 2.2 million Texans have cast ballots in the first several days of early voting for the Nov. 3 midterm election, outpacing the same point in the 2022 midterms.
Trackers compiling data from the Texas Secretary of State and county election offices put the total at roughly 2.27 million ballots as of Friday, including about 2.16 million cast in person and more than 110,000 returned by mail. That represents about 11.5% to 12% of the state’s more than 19 million registered voters. Through the third day of early voting, the total was already about 35% higher than the corresponding day in 2022, according to data compiled by TexPolls from Secretary of State reports.
Early voting began Monday, Oct. 19, and continues through Friday, Oct. 30. This weekend marks the final full weekend of early voting before the period ends next week. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.
A record-breaking 104K+ voters cast ballots on the first day of Early Voting, setting a new benchmark for first-day midterm turnout and surpassing the previous record set in 2018. Early Voting continues through Oct. 30. Make your plan at https://t.co/3pbpQNE5Od. https://t.co/NsubMwPJ7D
— Harris County Elections Department (@HarrisVotes) October 20, 2026
Large urban counties have driven much of the early surge. Dallas County has recorded the highest raw total so far, with more than 275,000 ballots, followed by Harris County. Tarrant, Travis, Bexar, and Collin counties have each surpassed 100,000 votes. Several counties, including Harris and Dallas, set first-day midterm records on Monday, with Harris County alone reporting more than 104,000 in-person voters that day — well above its 2018 midterm opening-day mark.
Texas does not register voters by party, so official early voting reports do not break down ballots by affiliation. Analysts have noted stronger early participation from voters with a history of Democratic primary voting compared with the same period in 2024, though they caution that trends this early do not necessarily predict final results.
Voters can cast ballots at any early voting location in their county through Oct. 30. Polling places are generally open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays, with extended or adjusted hours on weekends. Mail ballot applications must be received by county clerks by Friday, Oct. 23.
The elevated early turnout comes amid competitive statewide races, including the U.S. Senate contest between Democrat James Talarico and Republican Ken Paxton, as well as other statewide and local contests.
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