Early voting for the upcoming Saturday, May 4, election is drawing to a close, and Harris County is experiencing a Turnout Uniform that is notably lower than usual for a May election. This is according to Harris County Clerk Teneshia Hudspeth, who provided an update on the current voter participation.
Early Voting Sign at University of Houston Student Center for May Uniform Election – Low Voter Turnout Highlighted
As of Sunday, the county had recorded approximately 24,000 voters. This figure breaks down to just over 10,000 individuals casting their ballots in person during the early voting period, with slightly more than 13,000 voting by mail. Considering Harris County has over 2.5 million registered voters, this turnout uniform is significantly low. In fact, the voter turnout to date is less than 1% of registered voters. Historically, total turnout for May uniform elections in Harris County typically ranges between 4% and 6%, highlighting the current election’s exceptionally low engagement.
Despite the lower turnout uniform, every Texan voter has important decisions to make on May 4. The ballot includes a race for a director position on their county’s local property tax appraisal board. These positions were established by state law during the recent legislative session and subsequently approved by voters as Proposition 4 last November.
For Harris County residents, this means an opportunity to vote for three board members. These elected officials will play a crucial role in key decisions, including hiring the chief appraiser, appointing members to the Appraisal Review Board, determining the district’s budget, and engaging with external stakeholders. These responsibilities underscore the significant impact these board members will have on local property taxes and assessments.
To make informed decisions, voters are encouraged to utilize online resources. Harris County Clerk Hudspeth recommends visiting HarrisVotes.com to access sample ballots specific to their location. Additionally, the nonpartisan League of Women Voters’ guide offers detailed information about the candidates’ stances on various issues, empowering voters to understand their choices better.
Furthermore, residents of Texas Senate District 15 in Harris County have an additional matter on their ballot. A special election is being held to fill the unexpired term of John Whitmire, who vacated the seat upon becoming Mayor of Houston. This special election is separate from the primary runoff on May 28, which will determine the Democratic candidate for SD 15 for the next legislative session.
According to Hudspeth, the elections for SD 15 and the Harris Central Appraisal District are the primary focus of her office for this election cycle. However, depending on a voter’s location within Harris County, there may be additional local races on the ballot. These could include elections for MUD districts, water districts, school boards, or mayoral and council member races in smaller cities and jurisdictions. It is therefore vital for every voter to check their sample ballot on HarrisVotes.com to ensure they are aware of all races relevant to their area and participate fully in this important turnout uniform election.
