More than two weeks before Election Day for the Houston mayoral race, some local voters headed to the polls in an attempt to beat the crowd.
Early voting started Monday in Harris County, where more than 60 poll locations are open. The early voting period for the city elections runs through Nov. 3, with Election Day on Nov. 7.
“I prefer to come early because when it comes the day, it’s too much people,” said voter Olimipia Rodriguez, who was among the early voters Monday. “And right now it’s better for me.”
There are 17 candidates on the ballot for the mayor’s race. Texas Sen. John Whitmire and U.S. Rep. Shelia Jackson Lee are the frontrunners, according to a recent survey by the Hobby School of Public Affairs at the University of Houston.
This year’s city elections also include races for city council seats and city controller, along with a series of local and statewide propositions on the ballot.
Amos Daniels, who voted Monday morning at the Kashmere Gardens Multi-Service Center on Lockwood Drive, said she wants the next mayor to have accountability and felt that it’s been lacking during Mayor Sylvester Turner’s tenure in office, which began in 2016.
“It would be nice if these politicians would do what they say they’re going to do,” Daniels said. “[When] Sylvester Turner came in talking about he was going to be the pothole mayor and he was going to fix all the potholes and everything. Well, I live out in this area and one day I hit a pothole. He didn’t do what he said he’s going to do.”
Daniels said that she will vote for the candidate she believes can be transparent during their tenure in the mayor’s office.
“They just need to do what they say they’re going to do,” Daniels said. “They all come in with agendas. They all band together.”
METRO, the region’s transit provider, is providing free round-trip service to the polls through the early voting period and on Election Day. Voters just need to inform the bus operator or fare inspector that they are going to or returning from the polls.
Voters must have one of seven acceptable forms of photo identification in order to vote.
Voters can still request a mail-in ballot through Oct. 27. They must be completed and sent in by Nov. 7.
Culled from the Houston Public Media
