Burnet County early voting totals climb

When Burnet County resident Kellie Goad prepared to cast her ballot Oct. 21, she double-checked that her information was in order.

“I made sure my driver's license was good, not expired. I digged to find my voter card,” she said. “It was all good. Lines were good.

“Be prepared to vote,” she added. “We express our rights this way.”

Burnet County officials sent the same message to residents during early voting, while releasing a report detailing unprecedented turnout during the first and much of the second week of three weeks of early voting for the Nov. 3 presidential election.

Burnet County Judge James Oakley released a statement updating percentages as of 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21, revealing the results of seven days of ballot counting.

“There have been 10,946 votes cast in person plus 2,405 ballots received in the mail or delivered in person by the registered voter,” Oakley stated. “That is 13,351 total ballots cast equaling 39.5 percent of all 33,734 registered voters.”

The Burnet County Elections Office, tasked with handling the local election, also counted an increased number of local vote-by-mail ballots for the 2020 presidential election cycle.

“About 3,500 ballots were mailed out based on applications received. There are about 11,000 of Burnet County’s registered voters that are eligible by age alone (65 or older) to receive mail-in ballots,” according to public information provided to Oakley by the elections office.

In-person, seven-day early voting totals, reflecting nearly 10,946 votes, at sites were as follows:

• 4,098 (37 percent) – Marble Falls courthouse annex;

• 3,818 (35 percent) – Burnet Agri-Life;

• 1,625 (15 percent) – Bertram Library; and

• 1,404 (13 percent) – Granite Shoals Community Center.

Due to COVID-19 concerns, the state allowed for 15 early voting days instead of 11, so voters will continue early voting today, Friday, Oct. 23 and Saturday, Oct. 24 as well as next week Oct. 26 through Oct. 30.

See polling location details and more voter information on page 2.

In comparison to past voting patterns, the 2018 gubernatorial election had a total voter turnout of 18,693 out of 30,534 registered voters; a 61 percent turnout.

The 2018 election posted 1,817 mail-in ballots.

The 2016 presidential election resulted in a total voter turnout of 19,517 of 28,938 registered voters; a 67 percent turnout. The 2016 election posted a total of 1,811 mail-in ballots.

So far during early voting, Burnet County officials remedied a number of issues which streamlined the progress of long lines and new check-in technology at polling sites, showing signs of becoming an historic turnout.

By mid-week during the second week of the current election, officials said they noticed lines beginning to dwindle.

“It's a light day today,” said Burnet County Elections Administrator Doug Ferguson said. “There's a lot of voting left.”

A collective look at the average tally of voters indicated approximately 1,600 citizens voting each day.

“The lines are moving quickly,” Ferguson said. “Saturday will probably be one of the lightest days. I encourage people to show up that day.”

Burnet County voter Crissy Alderman chose the second week to vote because she had the day off.

“It was easy. You go in pick a stylus out of the cup. Get a few quick questions to make sure all your information matches. They hand you a code, and you go vote.

“Because of COVID, they had it all set up differently, but it was still smooth,” she added.

Alderman offered a word of advice for those who have yet to cast their ballots.

“Do your research. If you have questions, you can find sample ballots online,” Alderman said. “Just remember to go out and vote. Your voice matters.”

For more information about local procedures, go to www.burnetcountytexas.org. Also, find a comprehensive voter's guide on The Highlander's website at www.highlandernews.com or in the Tuesday, Oct. 20 issue of the newspaper.