Early voting in Fort Bend County ends Friday, and county Elections Administrator John Oldham said turnout is slowing down in the second week. A total of 135,728 early ballots for the general election have been cast countywide as of Nov. 1. The highest early voting turnout, as of Nov. 1, was reported at Cinco Ranch Branch, Fort Bend County Library; Tompkins High School in Katy, Missouri City Community Center, Four Corners Recreation Center in Sugar Land, and Sienna Branch, Fort Bend County Library in Missouri City. The highest early voting turnout, as of Nov. 1, was reported at Cinco Ranch Branch, Fort Bend County Library; Tompkins High School in Katy, Missouri City Community Center, Four Corners Recreation Center in Sugar Land, and Sienna Branch, Fort Bend County Library in Missouri City.[/caption] County residents may vote from any voting center. Here are the top five locations where the most early-voting ballots have been cast in Fort Bend County so far:
  1. Cinco Ranch Branch, Fort Bend County Library: 15,650
  2. Tompkins High School in Katy: 10,342
  3. Missouri City Community Center: 9,500
  4. Four Corners Recreation Center in Sugar Land: 8,268
  5. Sienna Branch, Fort Bend County Library: 8,258
Turnout slowed significantly on Monday, which Oldham said might have been due to Halloween. The second week of early voting is typically busier for Fort Bend County but not so this year, he said. “We didn’t know what to expect this week,” Oldham said. Despite shrinking traffic at polling places, some complications have arisen, he said. “When you have 135,000 people come in, you’re going to have some issues,” he said. “We have some folks who don’t understand the new voter I.D. laws, minor equipment issues that we’ve dealt with.” Oldham also said polling places at the edges of Harris County often turn away voters who mistakenly try to cast their ballots in the wrong county. He said the hiccups were expected and not unusual for Fort Bend County elections. Last week the county reported record-breaking turnout after the first day of early voting on Oct. 24, when 18,182 ballots were cast not counting mail-in and limited ballots. Due to the high turnout, the Fort Bend County Commissioners Court extended early voting location hours on Oct. 27-28. For additional early voting information, visit the county’s website.