Early voting in Texas continues through October 30, with nearly a quarter of Young County's registered voters having cast ballots in the first week. Multiple Texas counties reported heightened participation, and over 4.4 million Texans had voted by October 25. Election officials in Bexar County are addressing questions about emergency ballot procedures when scanner malfunctions occur.
Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Election Day for November 2026 general and special elections (Statewide)15
Who's involved
Kaitlyn MosleyYoung County Election Supervisor
Brenda StennettOlney poll worker
Texas Secretary of StateState election official
Bexar County election judgesElection judges
The facts
Young County's early voting turnout was 23.5 percent after first seven days by October 25.1
Over 4.4 million Texans had cast ballots by October 25, about 23.1 percent of 19 million eligible voters.1
Texas voter registration increased 7.7 percent compared to the 2022 midterm elections.1
Young County had two polling locations open: Courthouse Annex in Graham and Fort Belknap Electric Cooperative in Olney.1
Bexar County election workers received instructions to handle ballots from emergency scanner compartments.3
Early voting ends October 30, 2026; Election Day is November 3, 2026.15Stated by 2 sources
Who said what
These are statements and claims made by the people involved. They are reported, not verified.
Kaitlyn Mosley, Young County Election Supervisor Voting has been smooth with no complaints reported.1
Brenda Stennett, Olney poll worker She has seen new faces this year and turnout has been brisk.1
VoteHub/CBS News data Forty-one percent of early voters did not state a party affiliation on voting records.1
Political analysts Early voting figures alone cannot establish which party or candidates will benefit from increased participation.1
Where the sources disagree
Whether emergency-bin ballots should be scanned at polling locations or at central counting stations Bexar County training instructed workers to scan them at polling locations [3]; Texas Secretary of State Central Counting Station Handbook (revised July 20, 2026) states they must be scanned at central counting station [3]
How they headlined it
The same event, as each outlet put it. Marked words appear in only one outlet's headline.
Young County Early Voting Tops 23 Percent in First Week
These outlets were found through Google News headlines. Google decides which outlets appear there, and they lean mostly one way, so this sheet can only be as balanced as the reporting it was built from. Leanings are AllSides Media Bias Ratings.
Glen Maxey, Texas's first openly gay legislator, helped Democrat James Talarico win his 2018 state House race by flagging unregistered voters in Talarico's Williamson County district and sending them prefilled registration forms. Talarico now faces Republican Ken Paxton in a U.S. Senate race on November 3.
Glen Maxey, Texas's first openly gay legislator; helped with Talarico's 2018 campaign; James Talarico, Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate; won 2018 House race with Maxey's help; Ken Paxton, Republican nominee for U.S. Senate and 4 more
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton held a campaign rally in Fort Worth on Saturday as part of his U.S. Senate race against Democrat James Talarico. Supporters were bused in from rural counties including Wise and Jack counties.
Ken Paxton, Republican attorney general and U.S. Senate nominee; James Talarico, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate; JD Enright, Paxton supporter who paid for bus from Runaway Bay
As Election Day approaches, Texas voters said immigration is a key issue motivating them to vote early. Some expressed concern about deportations under the Trump administration, while others cited concerns about illegal immigration.
The 2026 midterm elections will be held on Tuesday, November 3, with voters casting ballots for all 435 House seats, 35 Senate races, and governor positions in 39 states. CBS News will provide live coverage of results and analysis across multiple platforms beginning after polls close.
CBS News, broadcaster providing election coverage; Tony Dokoupil, anchor; Norah O'Donnell, anchor and 3 more
Texas Secretary of State Robert Howden announced the state has 19 million registered voters, a record number. As of October 23, more than 2.7 million Texans had voted early, with early voting ending October 30.
$$150 million for spending supporting Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton
Robert Howden, Texas Secretary of State; Greg Abbott, Governor, Republican, seeking fourth term; Gina Hinojosa, Democrat, Austin state representative, candidate for governor and 3 more
Texas voters cast a record 7.4 million early ballots in person and by mail for the 2026 midterm elections as of Friday, Oct. 30. This surpasses the 5.5 million early votes in 2022 and 4.9 million in 2018.
Texas Secretary of State's office, reported voting data
Rio Grande Valley voters are reconsidering their political allegiances ahead of the 2026 election, citing economic hardship as their primary concern. Trump won 14 of 18 border counties in 2024, but some voters who supported him then cite tariffs and rising costs as reasons to reconsider.
Jesus Robles, mechanical bull business owner in Rio Grande Valley; Vicente Gonzalez, Democratic U.S. Representative; Henry Cuellar, Democratic U.S. Representative and 5 more
Advertising spending in the Texas U.S. Senate race between Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico has exceeded $500 million, making it the second nonpresidential race to reach that threshold. The election is scheduled for November 3, 2026.
$over $500 million for advertising spending and reservations in Texas Senate race
Ken Paxton, Republican U.S. Senate candidate, Texas attorney general since 2015; James Talarico, Democrat U.S. Senate candidate, state legislator since 2019; Elon Musk, Funder of political committees supporting Paxton and 1 more