Early voting in Texas opens Monday, Oct. 19, and runs through Friday, Oct. 30, ahead of the Nov. 3 general election. Republicans are urging supporters to get to the polls early for Attorney General Ken Paxton, the party's U.S. Senate nominee, and Gov. Greg Abbott, who is seeking a fourth term.
Paxton faces Democratic state Rep. James Talarico for the Senate seat. President Trump on Saturday gave Paxton his "Complete and Total Endorsement," calling him "the Greatest Attorney General in the History of Texas." Paxton plans to start early voting Monday with a stop in Allen on his "Come and Take It" bus tour. Abbott faces Democratic state Rep. Gina Hinojosa and stressed the importance of turnout at a luncheon on Friday, according to the Texas GOP.
Both races are expected to be close. Rice University political scientist Mark Jones told CBS Austin that Abbott leads by two to five points, while Talarico holds a narrow lead over Paxton. Jones expects 60% to 75% of all Texas ballots to be cast during early voting.
Registered voters can vote at any early voting site in their county. Hours vary by county, with main sites open at least 12 hours a day in the final week. Polling places are listed at VoteTexas.gov and on county election websites.
Voters must show one of seven approved photo IDs, such as a Texas driver's license or a U.S. passport. Those who cannot reasonably get one can sign a Reasonable Impediment Declaration and show a document such as a utility bill. On Election Day, polls are open from 7 AM to 7 PM.
Photo: Ken Paxton by Gage Skidmore (CC BY-SA 2.0); Greg Abbott by USDA (public domain), via Wikimedia Commons
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