Texas Counties Report Record Early Voting for 2026 Midterms

Thousands of Texas voters turned out for the first day of early voting in the 2026 midterm elections on Monday, October 19, as Dallas, Tarrant, Denton, Collin, and Travis counties reported substantial participation. Data from county election officials and the Texas Secretary of State showed that first-day turnout in several counties exceeded their totals from the 2022 midterm elections, while remaining below 2024 presidential election levels in some areas.

Dallas County recorded 76,079 ballots on the opening day, according to its Elections Department. That exceeded the 56,431 ballots cast on the first day of early voting in the 2024 presidential election and the 32,605 recorded in the 2022 midterms, based on Texas Secretary of State data.

Tarrant County reported 50,409 ballots, up from 29,197 during the first day of early voting in 2022. However, the latest figure remained below the 58,487 ballots recorded on the opening day of early voting in the 2024 presidential election.

Denton County Elections reported 34,739 voters on October 19, more than 17,000 above its first-day total in the 2022 midterms. The county recorded 50,661 ballots on the equivalent day in the 2024 presidential election, according to the Texas Secretary of State.

Collin County counted 34,522 ballots on the first day, approximately 15,000 more than in the 2022 midterms. Its total was nearly 10,000 below the 43,987 ballots cast on the first day of early voting in the 2024 presidential election.

Despite the increase in participation compared with the previous midterm cycle, some Collin County voters encountered disruptions caused by ballot printer problems on Monday morning. Viewers told NBC 5 that some people who arrived to vote were turned away because of the equipment issues.

The Collin County election commissioner confirmed that printer problems affected approximately 10 early voting locations but said the issue was not countywide. Election officials restored service later, although the duration of the disruptions and the number of voters who were turned away or unable to cast ballots remained unclear.

Travis County also surpassed its first-day early voting record for a midterm election this century, with nearly 41,000 people casting ballots, according to the Texas Secretary of State's Office. County Clerk Dyana Limon-Mercado said preparations for heavy turnout followed a primary election that had produced the highest early voting participation of any primary election since 2008.

Limon-Mercado said the county aimed to make the election more accessible by expanding voting opportunities and increasing the number of polling locations.

"the most accessible election in our community's history" was the goal described by Dyana Limon-Mercado, Travis County Clerk.

Travis County made 45 early voting locations available for the 2026 election, up from 38 during the previous midterm cycle, and established 201 Election Day sites. Early voting locations operate from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, including weekends, with seven designated sites scheduled to remain open until 10 p.m. on the final two days.

Statewide early voting runs from Monday, October 19, through Friday, October 30. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, when polling locations will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., according to the election schedule published by NBC 5 DFW.