Through the first nine days of early voting for the 2023 election, Galveston County has more than doubled its early vote total when compared to 2021, according to county election data.

The gist

From Oct. 23 to Nov. 2, Galveston County saw nearly 15,500 voters and is averaging north of 1,700 voters each day, data shows.

That’s more than double 2021’s early vote total, which had 6,233 total voters come out prior to Election Day, according to Galveston County election data.

Put into perspective, in the 10 early voting days prior to the election in 2021, Galveston County eclipsed 1,000 votes—1,510 on the last day of early voting—one time, while in 2023, turnout has been at least 1,300 each day, data shows.

Through the first nine days, the highest vote total in one day for 2023 was 2,751 votes, which came on Nov. 2, according to the data.

Meanwhile, Election Day in 2021 saw 8,758 people turn out, the data shows.

Diving in deeper

A couple voter-approval tax rate elections, or VATREs, along with two bonds are on the ballot for local Galveston County voters this year.

Both Clear Creek ISD and Friendswood ISD are looking at VATREs in an effort to close up projected shortfalls in their respective fiscal year 2023-24 budgets.

CCISD, Santa Fe ISD and the Bacliff Municipal Utility District also have bond elections, according to the Galveston County sample ballot.

Other items on the local level include:

• A trustee election for Galveston ISD
• A local sales tax election for both the cities of Bayou Vista and Dickinson
• A measure to remove a member of of La Marque’s City Council

Most of what’s on the ballot for Galveston County voters consists of several state constitutional amendments, according to the county’s website.

The 2023 ballot has a number of amendments to the state constitution, including increasing the homestead exemption tax break from $40,000 to $100,000, meaning properties would have less taxable value, if the measure passes.

There are 14 total state propositions on the ballot this year, many of which are county-specific. Some of those that are not county-specific include:

• A constitutional amendment to increase the mandatory retirement age for state justices and judges
• Constitutional amendments creating a number of funds, such as park funding, broadband funding, energy funding and water funding for various projects
• Allowing the 88th state Legislature to make a cost-of-living adjustment to the Teacher Retirement System of Texas

Stay tuned

Early voting wraps up Nov. 3 and Election Day falls on Nov. 7, which will be the last day to vote in this year’s cycle.