To give you an idea of the huge the # of Texans who are turning out to vote

[rainbow4321]

In 2004, the total number of early votes in the Dem primary election was 298,383.

As of yesterday, per the TX SOS website that updates the tally each day of JUST the top 15 most populated counties...717,469.



http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/earlyvoting/2008/feb28demo.shtml


http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/forms/enrrpts/2004demprim.pdf


The statewide votes in the Democratic Primary Election 2004 (again this was including all counties, not just the top 15): 839,231

http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe



Today's (Friday--last early voting day) totals are not calculated/posted yet but what we are looking at here is just as many or MORE votes in JUST the early voting period for JUST 15 counties this year than grand total votes in 2004 Primary Voting when all 200+ TX counties were counted.




Given these kinds of record breaking numbers, can you imagine the LONG lines there will be on Tuesday..I'm kinda afraid we will see polls closing before people actually get INTO the buildings where the polling stations are located!
Let's HOPE someone in this state (ok, insert laughing and "yeah, suurre they haves" here) has thought ahead and ordered a shitload of voting machines even in areas that have normally in the past only needed a handful of machines.

[ananda]

1. ::}

I was an early voter in Texas.. for Clinton.

I want Clinton and Obama to be very close..

.. for Edwards to be an influence.

People over corporations and lobbists.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

2. Texas has 254 counties.

I did early voting today and the line was unreal. Waited an hour and a half. I've never seen anything like it, especially in a primary. I can't imagine how heavy it will be on Election Day.

[rainbow4321]

3. It's gonna be a frigging mess...

As much as I would love to have waited til Tuesday just to feel the excitement in the air at the voting areas, going to vote last Saturday afternoon when there were only 8 of us in line was a much better idea.

If TX election officials screw this up they will have no excuse, they have had access to the (daily) record breaking numbers/stats just as we have had--and they have had ample time to prepare accordingly!

[WatchWhatISay]

4. Don't worry. We are aware

We've been getting daily numbers. I am attending training tomorrow for for 6 hours. The most important part of the training will be how to hold a precinct caucus. As, precinct chair, I was responsible for holding the last caucus. I was so relieved when no when showed up, because I really had no idea what to do. But I know that will not be the case this time, so I will be ready.

I am also the Dem election judge for my precinct so I'll have to be closing down and preparing the records to send up to election central (as well as the the machine that keeps the totals for both parties). And at the same time, at 7:15 I will have to at least start the caucus, but more practically, will probably have to run it because no one else will know how.

So don't be surprised if returns are very late coming in. Last time I didnt get home till 10 pm (we usually get to the polls at 6 am.) And this time there will actullay be a precinct caucus to make it even later.