Record turnout for early voting in El Paso
EL PASO, Texas — A record turnout on the first day of early voting in El Paso County.
The polls are now open for the 2016 presidential election and for local races.
At about 3:30 p.m., the County Elections Office told KFOX14 they'd see around 10,000 voters cast a ballot in-person, Monday.
In the afternoon and evening, a line formed around the Bartlett Assisted Living Center, an early voting location in West El Paso.
See a list of early voting locations and sample ballots.
In the 2012 presidential election, about 8,000 people voted on the first day of early voting in El Paso.
There aren't lines everywhere.
Voters at the Galatzan Rec Center were in and out in about 10 to 15 minutes when KFOX14 was there Monday afternoon.
El Pasoan Chris Rojas brought his son to the polls with him. He said he wanted his son to understand the importance of casting a ballot.
Voters KFOX14 spoke to said they like to vote early because of how busy the polls are on Election Day and because you can vote anywhere during early voting.
That's why the County Elections Office is encouraging El Pasoans to vote early.
The elections administrator, Lisa Wise said because of the high turnout some of the polling places had lines and saw more than 1,000 voters in eight hours.
Some of the voters who spoke to KFOX14 said they're glad this crazy campaign cycle is almost over and now voters get to make their choice.
“It was very discouraging because they were just talking about emails. Who groped who. Who said this. Who touched that. No. I'm done with that. I want to know what's going to happen with the election, with my son, with my family,” said Rojas.
Jamie Livingston also voted early on Monday to avoid the long lines on Election Day.
“This is going to break boundaries for the American people. I think this election especially just has people wound up. No matter what side of the election you fall on,” said Livingston.
The Elections Office expects Tuesday to be slightly less busy.
