Voters cast early ballots

If there ever was any proof needed that there’s a lot of interest in this year’s election, an initial count of the number of voters who cast their ballots on the first day of early voting might be a solid indicator. County election officials said an unofficial count showed 4,200 voters cast ballots on the first day of early voting across Galveston County on Monday.

That compares to about 1,800 who voted on the first day of early voting four years ago, which at the time was considered a high early voter turnout.

Of the county’s 15 early voting locations, the League City county annex building was the busiest with 800 voters, assistant elections coordinator Susan Williams said. The Joe Faggard Community center on the Bolivar Peninsula was the slowest with a few more than 20 votes cast.

Williams did not provide figures from the other polling locations because the numbers were not “official,” she said.

Early voting differs from Election Day in that voters can cast ballots at any of the locations no matter what precinct he or she lives in. For example, a Galveston resident who works in League City can vote at a polling location closer to work than having to drive back home first. The same, too, for mainland residents who work in Galveston at the University of Texas Medical Branch.

Early voting continues through Oct. 29. Election Day is Nov. 2.

The turnout for the first day of early voting wasn’t the only election increase. Cheryl Johnson, the county’s tax assessor-collector who also is the voter registrar, said voter registrations for this election jumped 2,900 voters.

There are 182,314 registered voters in Galveston County for the 2010 election, she said.

There were few reports of problems at polling locations Monday despite the heavy turnout. Most voters reported short or no waits, and it appeared each polling location opened on time Monday, which is against the norm.

The only reported problem came at the polling location at the Environmental Health building in La Marque, where police were called. Turns out the cops weren’t really needed.

An enthusiastic volunteer for one of the campaigns violated election laws by walking with voters to the door and lobbying voters, Williams said. Campaign workers have to stay 100 feet away from the entrance to the polling location.

Out of precaution, police were called, but by the time officers arrived the election judge at the location had gotten things straightened out, La Marque Police Chief Randall Aragon said. La Marque is having a recall election of three of its council members that had, at times, been a testy debate between those for and against the recall.