MIDLAND COUNTY, Texas — Early voting is a way to get the process done more thoughtfully and avoid the crowds of people coming to the voting centers on Election Day.
“I think it’s always good to come out early because you never know what the lines are going to look like on Election Day," said Midland County Elections Administrator Rosa Olgin.
Early voting has been open across both Midland and Ector County since Oct. 23, but it has been a bit slower than expected.
“Unfortunately in the odd numbered years, voter turnout does seem to be a little bit lower than the primary years, in the even numbered years," Olgin said. "A lot of times the only thing that appear to be on the ballot are the Texas propositions. The odd numbered years, there just isn’t a whole lot on the ballot, and people don’t realize there is an election going on.”
In Midland County, only around 10% of eligible voters have hit the polls.
While school bonds at Midland, Ector and Greenwood school districts are important items, they get dwarfed by the more publicized races of the primaries.
“We’ve got a lot of statewide races, a lot of county races," Olgin said. "Things like that that are on the ballot in the even number years."
An election is still an election, no matter the year and no matter what is on the ballot.
That is why it is better to get your voice heard early and beat the lines.
“I think it gives people more of an opportunity to vote. On Election Day, the polls can get very busy, you’re looking at an hour wait or longer," Olgin said. "Giving the two weeks of early voting, it gives everyone the opportunity to show up at any of our five locations."
Those locations in Midland County are the County Annex, Centennial Library, Cogdell Learning Center, Fairmount Park Church of Christ and the Village at Manor Park.
Ector County, on the other hand, has the Ector County Courthouse Annex alongside the UTBP campus and Kellus Turner Community Building.
Meanwhile, curbside voting is available for those who may not be able to get out of their car and walk to the polls.
"Any voters that have a kind of disability where it makes it hard for them to get out of their vehicle without the likelihood of getting injured, can pull up to the front of the building, give us a call and we will have our elections judge come out there and get the appropriate paperwork complete," Olgin said "And [we will] get a voting machine out to the vehicle so voters can vote from their car if necessary."
Early voting wraps up on Friday, Nov. 3.