Bexar County Holds 1.3 Million Ballots Until Final Voter Casts Vote

Bexar County will withhold the results of its 1.3 million early and mail-in ballots until the final voter in line casts their ballot on Election Day.

Michele Carew, the county's elections administrator, stated that she does not plan to release these figures immediately after polls close at 7 p.m. This decision creates a potential delay in reporting outcomes for one of Texas' most populous jurisdictions.

Carew explained that her primary goal is to prevent voters from leaving the line because they believe their vote no longer impacts the final tally. She told TPR’s The Source on Wednesday that releasing numbers too early could cause voters to feel their ballot does not count.

The strategy differs from most other Texas counties, which typically release early and mail-in results right after 7 p.m. while adding same-day votes in real time. In Bexar County, the wait could extend past 10 p.m. if large numbers of voters remain in line.

Carew noted that the state election code grants her the authority to make this judgment call. She said she will monitor the number of people waiting at polling locations to determine when to release the data.

During the March primary, approximately 5,000 people were still waiting to vote at 7 p.m. on the final day. Carew indicated that if similar crowds form on November 3, the release of results could be delayed by at least an hour.

She added that if only a few hundred voters are in line, the numbers may be released more quickly. Her aim is to avoid any scenario where voters wait past 10 p.m. to cast their ballots.

The county has made major investments in election technology this year to improve efficiency. However, lines moved slowly during the first days of early voting, leading to adjustments and the addition of 40 new voting machines and check-in stations.

Voters in Bexar County can currently use a new wait times website to find shorter lines among more than 50 early voting locations. On November 3, the county will operate more than 300 voting locations throughout the region.

The November 3 ballot includes the U.S. Senate race between Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico, along with contests for Texas governor and various congressional and county offices.