Fewer Tarrant County residents voted early this year than in the 2020 primary. In early voting four years ago, 11.87% of voters cast ballots early. In early voting this year, turnout in the Republican and Democratic primaries totaled 10.16%.
Some voting locations had a rush during the noon hour on election day Tuesday. Others saw spikes in activity at different times.
At the Southside Community Center south of Downtown Fort Worth, one woman said she was surprised to pull into an empty lot Tuesday morning.
"Some maybe don't have time. Some maybe don't care," she said.
She said she had picked out candidates for president and other higher offices but was surprised to see local offices and Republican Party propositions.
"I liked the questions they asked about taxes," she said. "I like that because they want to know what people are thinking."
Another man came with his daughter for her first election.
"When they were little, I would take them with me to the polls to see how simple this is," he said. "At a young age, I was explaining to them, don't take it for granted."
He and his daughter walked out wearing their "I voted" stickers on their foreheads.
"It's the first time she's come to vote, so we wanted to do something comical," he said.
"I was really shocked at how many of my peers are not excited about voting," his daughter said. "I just really wish and hope we can get more young people out so they understand the importance of voting. Everyone my age says, 'This needs to change.' Well, get out there and vote."
Some voting locations in Tarrant County reported issues during the day. At Handley-Meadowbrook Community Center, people who showed up when polls opened were slowed down when volunteers did not have enough power cords for all machines. Democratic and Republican voting judges say the issue was corrected, and voting has continued.
At Tanglewood Elementary, some voters say they were slowed by an issue signing people in when polls first opened, but election judges say the issue was solved shortly after polls opened.
Tarrant County residents can find a polling place and sample ballot at https://gisit.tarrantcounty.com/TCVL/ .
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