The county accumulated a record of 624,532 ballots by the close of Sunday, October 25, a 57% increase over the same point in 2022. Early voting ends on Friday, October 30.
October 27, 2026.
Harris County registered its highest early turnout in the first week of a midterm election since comparable records began in 1998. By the close of Sunday, October 25, 2026, the total reached 624,532 ballots, according to an analysis of the county’s public election records.
The Harris County Project tally, updated on October 26, includes 587,516 in-person votes and 37,016 mail ballots. Of the total mail ballots, 22,821 had been received before the start of in-person early voting on October 19.
The figure represents 226,937 ballots more than the 397,595 counted at the same point in the 2022 midterm elections, about a 57% increase. The data reflect the close of the seventh day of the early voting period and do not represent the final turnout for 2026.
The first day of voting broke the 2018 record
Turnout began with a new mark on Monday, October 19, when more than 104,600 people voted in person in Harris County. The figure surpassed the 63,188 in-person votes recorded on the first day of the 2018 midterm elections.
The county had surpassed that record before 3:30 p.m. on October 19. Turnout continued to exceed the levels recorded in the early days of previous midterm elections.
On Sunday, October 25, the last day of the first week, 40,865 people cast their in-person votes. Polling centers operated that Sunday from noon to 7 p.m., a shorter schedule than on other days.
Four of five early voters also participated in 2022
The growth in early voting does not necessarily imply that the majority of the additional ballots come from first-time voters.
Rice University political science professor Mark Jones noted in an interview published by KPRC 2 on October 27 that approximately four in five voters who had already voted early also participated in the 2022 midterm elections.
Jones explained that the records examined point to an initially higher turnout among voters with backgrounds associated with Democratic primaries. The expert noted that the second week will allow observers to see whether voters with Republican backgrounds reduce that gap.
Texas does not record voters by party affiliation. Participation analyses use primary election voting histories, but that history does not reveal a person’s preference in the general election. The initial advantage of a group of voters does not allow predicting the outcome of November 3.
The U.S. Senate and the governorship are among the races
The elevated turnout coincides with the elections for the United States Senate, the Texas governorship, and various local and state offices.
In the race for the U.S. Senate, James Talarico (Democrat); Ken Paxton (Republican); and Ted Brown (Libertarian) are on the ballot. The election will determine who will fill the seat currently represented by John Cornyn.
In the governorship, Republican Greg Abbott seeks a fourth term against Democrat Gina Hinojosa and Libertarian Pat Dixon.
Harris County will also elect the person who will lead the county government as County Judge. The top candidates are Democrat Letitia Plummer and Republican Orlando Sanchez, after Lina Hidalgo decided not to seek reelection.
The results of early voting show how many people have participated, but not for which candidates they voted. The outcomes of the races will be known after the polls close on November 3 and the corresponding vote count.
The 75 early voting centers close on October 30
Harris County has opened 75 early voting centers for the 2026 general elections. During the final week, from Monday, October 26 to Friday, October 30, the centers operate from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Any person registered to vote in Harris County can go to any of the designated centers within the county, regardless of their address.
The Harris County center locator shows locations available by address and allows checking estimated wait times.
The Harris County Elections Office also offers tools to verify registration, review a sample ballot, and learn the identification documents accepted for voting.
The regular deadline to register for these elections ended on October 5. After Friday the 30th there will be no more early voting days: the centers will be closed on Saturday, October 31 and Sunday, November 1.
Related: Early voting in Harris County: October 19 to October 30.
Early voting ends on Friday, October 30 at 7 p.m. The general election day will be Tuesday, November 3, 2026, when polling places will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
