Big Spike in Early Voting on Next-to-Last Day
Turnout Monday nearly double any previous day
By Lee Nichols, 10:16PM, Mon. May 4, 2009
A sharp jump in turnout for day 8 of early voting has pushed the 2009 totals ahead of the entire nine days of last year’s municipal elections. While it’s not unusual for the last day of early voting to see a big spike upwards, this bump came on the next-to-last day: 5,326 ballots were cast in person, plus another 162 mail-ins, producing a total almost double any of the previous days.
This brings the grand total to 21,472, well ahead of the 19,613 from last year’s EV period. The percentage of registered voters is higher too, 4.08% versus 2008’s 3.47%.
Those numbers bode well for improving on last year’s paltry 35,858 total ballots and 8.25% turnout.
Good job, Austin! Well, relatively speaking, of course. Okay, I guess it would be more accurate to say we have a chance at being less pathetic than last year.
Early voting ends tomorrow (Tuesday, May 5) at 7pm. Go to our Election Central for early voting locations and hours, a list of candidates, our endorsements, and ongoing coverage. Election Day is May 9.
Got something to say on the subject? Send a letter to the editor.
A note to readers: Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austin’s independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the community’s political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands.
Brant Bingamon, Nov. 7, 2022
Oct. 14, 2019
Frank J. Rivera, Nov. 4, 2009
Sept. 3, 2021
Elections, Election 2009, City Council, early voting