Early Voting ends Today; Hidalgo County Elections Department to have record number of polling locations ready for Election Day

EDINBURG, Nov. 1 – Early voting for the 2024 General Election and Local Entities Elections ends today as Hidalgo County elections officials prepare for Election Day next Tuesday, November 5, 2024, with a record number of polling locations.

So far, nearly 130,000 voters have taken advantage of the early voting process with mail-in ballots totaling nearly 5,000 for an unofficial early voting tally of 134,380 as of end of day Wednesday, October 30, 2024.

With a total of more than 440,000 registered voters in Hidalgo County, that brings the early voting percentage to about 30.5 percent.

“During the 2020, we had a total of more than 188,000 people vote early,” said Hidalgo County Elections Administrator Hilda A. Salinas. “But remember that because of the pandemic, early voting was extended to 18 days instead of the 12 days for early voting this year, so voting turnout so far has been robust.”

Polls open on Tuesday at 7 a.m. and will stay open until 7 p.m. Anyone in line when polls close will be allowed to cast a ballot. Hidalgo County implements the Countywide Polling Place Program. This means your ballot will be available at all polling locations located throughout Hidalgo County.

Because of new election laws, Hidalgo County will have a record 109 polling locations. The previous record number of polling locations was the 2022 mid-term elections in which the county had 86 polling locations.

Salinas reports that early voting has generally gone smoothly, although there have been some concerns raised by voters about what is and is not permissible at polling locations. Among the rules, according to the Texas Secretary of State:

• No firearms are allowed at polling places
• No electioneering allowed within 100 feet of a polling location. Electioneering includes wearing any type of clothing or headgear advocating for a certain candidate
•  No sound amplification is allowed within 1,000 feet of a polling location
•  Cell phone use, including smart phone cameras, are not permitted within 100 feet of polling locations

Local law enforcement has been briefed on election laws and will conducting extra safety patrols as they have done in previous elections.