Denton County elections officials expect a busy Saturday since early voting turnout was relatively strong, according to Frank Phillips, elections administrator.
Denton-area cities, schools and special taxing districts will choose their councils and boards Saturday. Bartonville voters will also decide whether to allow liquor sales and Corinth voters are being asked whether to renew a street tax.
About 23 percent of the early ballots, or 3,627 of 15,467 ballots countywide, were cast Tuesday, the final day of early voting, Phillips said.
“Extrapolating from that turnout, we expect election day should be fairly robust,” Phillips said. “Argyle picked up a lot on the last day, but of course, Denton and Flower Mound led the pack.”
Cities often see better turnout when there is a mayoral race. In addition, about half of the total ballots are often cast during early voting.
Denton’s early voting count, about 2,350 in-person and mail-in ballots this year, has already surpassed the total of all ballots cast in all four City Council races last year. Denton Mayor Mark Burroughs faces challenges from former council member Neil Durrance and political newcomer Donna Woodfork.
Krugerville, where council member Dave Hill has challenged Mayor Erich Ranseleben for the seat, has seen early voting counts that almost surpassed the city’s total turnout in 2011.
Argyle doesn’t have a mayor’s race this year, but all three council seats are hotly contested. Election workers saw an average of about 40 voters per day at Town Hall during early voting. On the final day, turnout nearly tripled. In person, 394 voted early in Argyle, compared to 501 total ballots in its mayoral election last year.
Election workers won’t need to do anything special to prepare for a heavier-than-normal turnout.
“We always prepare for it to be busy,” Phillips said.
Saturday’s nonpartisan election is separate from the Texas primary election, which is May 29.
PEGGY HEINKEL-WOLFE can be reached at 940-566-6881. Her e-mail address is pheinkel-wolfe@dentonrc.com .
BY THE NUMBERS
• Denton 2011 total voters: 2,152
• Denton 2012 early voters (in-person): 2,307
• Denton average ballots cast first seven days: 245
• Denton ballots cast on last day: 591
• Argyle 2011 total ballots: 501
• Argyle 2012 early ballots (in-person): 394
• Argyle average ballots cast first seven days: 40
• Argyle ballots cast on last day: 109
Source: Denton County Elections Administration
