HOUSTON — Republican incumbent Sen. Ted Cruz cast his ballot Monday in Spring Branch before speaking with supporters ahead of his next event in a 58-stop bus tour.
"It's the first day of early voting all across the state of Texas," Cruz said. "I want to encourage every Texan to come out and vote, vote early.”
Democratic challenger Rep. Colin Allred voted in the congressional district he represents in Dallas.
"And we’ve voted here every election and we’re glad to be here today," Allred said. "And I’m so excited there’s a long line and Texans are turning out and excited to vote.”
Lines started forming at some polling sites in Harris County well before dawn.
“I’m 78, so I never know what’s going to happen," Fred Cull said. "I want to make sure my vote is in the can.”
According to Harris County Clerk Teneshia Hudspeth, we were on track to surpass totals from the first day of early voting in 2020, which was more than 128,000.
"Our election judges and clerks are busy, and they have been busy since 7 a.m. when the polls opened up today,” Hudspeth said.
Like in most elections, there were anecdotal issues including one someone told us about regarding a curbside voting button for the disabled. Hudspeth said technicians are roving the county to deal with anything that crops up as soon as possible. One issue she did not anticipate this year, unlike in previous years, is a ballot paper shortage.
"So, let me get ahead of it now," Hudspeth said. "There’s more than enough paper. I can guarantee you, ballot paper is not going to be the talking point for this election.”
The clerk’s office also took to social media to clear up a viral rumor concerning initials on your ballot making it invalid. It's an issue our Verify team has tackled and found out the the clerk’s initials are printed on every ballot and they’re supposed to be there.