Bexar County Hits Record 50% Turnout in Midterm Vote
Nearly 664,000 ballots were cast in the San Antonio area, surpassing previous midterm records despite a slight dip from the 2024 presidential vote.
By Andrew Kovalenko ·
Bexar County recorded a voter turnout of approximately 50% in Tuesday's midterm election. This figure represents nearly 664,000 ballots cast out of the county's 1.3 million registered voters.
The Bexar County Elections Department attributes this high participation rate to a combination of early voting, mail-in ballots, and Election Day voting. Early voting alone reached record levels this year. Around 39% of registered voters cast their ballots before Tuesday. The department reported that more than 527,000 ballots were submitted in person or by mail ahead of Election Day, marking the largest midterm turnout in the county's history.
Michelle Carew, the Bexar County Elections Administrator, stated that the results demonstrate the seriousness of local voters. She noted that residents want their votes to count and are seeking change. Carew reported that all 302 polling locations opened on time on Tuesday morning. She said there were no reported issues at the polls at the start of the day.
Federal election monitors were present in Bexar County as part of a Department of Justice initiative targeting seven Texas counties. These observers were tasked with checking voting procedures and compliance with election laws. Carew said the monitors remained quiet throughout the day. She noted that there was only one instance of feedback from the observers.
By Tuesday mid-afternoon, ballots were being cast at a rate of more than 10,000 per hour. Carew expressed pride in these numbers, referencing a past instruction to increase voter turnout. She said the current figures reflect that goal being met.
This year's turnout exceeds the 44% recorded in the 2022 midterm election. However, it falls short of the 759,000 ballots cast during the 2024 presidential election. The increase in civic participation coincided with Democratic victories in statewide and local races across Texas.
The election results ended a period of more than three decades during which the state was largely shut out for one party. Voters in the region moved to elect new officials at both the state and local levels.
