BELL COUNTY, Texas — As Election Day 2024 draws near, record numbers of people in Central Texas have registered to vote to ensure their voice is heard.
Election offices across Central Texas say they are doing everything they can to ensure the election is safe, secure and trustworthy.
Election officials say that with voter registration so high, it is crucial to plan your visit. Early voting begins Monday, Oct. 21 and runs through Friday, Nov. 1. Central Texas election officials are encouraging voters to vote early, and expect long lines on and before election day.
Bell County Public Information Officer James Stafford says there are over 250,000 registered voters in the county, a huge increase from previous years. McLennan County is reportedly seeing high numbers too.
"We have more registered voters than we've ever had before in McLennan County," Jared Goldsmith, McLennan County Election Administrator, told 6 News. "We're right around 150,000, somewhere between 159,000 and 600,000. So, you know, seeing that increase, that's great. And you know, I hope everybody gets out and votes."
"The demand was so high that our elections office made the decision to extend their hours four hours [the final day of voter registration], they stayed open until 9 p.m. trying to make sure that every Bell County resident who wanted to take part in this election have that ability," Stafford said. "We want you to know that you are safe to vote in Bell County and you can be confident that your vote is going to count because we're doing everything, everything we can possibly do to ensure that it's a safe, secure and trustworthy election."
Election officials also reminded voters of rules at polling locations.
Phones are not allowed in polling places, but voters are allowed to bring written notes or a printed sample ballot to help them remember candidates.
Voters must present one of the seven acceptable forms of ID to cast their vote. Those forms are:
- Texas Driver License issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)
- Texas Election Identification Certificate issued by DPS
- Texas Personal Identification Card issued by DPS
- Texas Handgun License issued by DPS
- United States Military Identification Card containing the person’s photograph
- United States Citizenship Certificate containing the person’s photograph
- United States Passport (book or card)
Firearms are also not allowed within 100 feet of a polling location except for law enforcement officers.
"On the election day and early voting is electioneering or just campaigning or advocating for any candidate measure or party," Stafford said, explaining what kind of conduct is and isn't allowed at polling locations. "And that can be everything from handing out brochures within 100 feet of the polling place to wearing apparel that might be promoting a party or a candidate. So if you walk into a polling place and you have a hat, for instance, or a shirt that is espousing a AAA certain policy or a candidate, you may be asked to leave and change out of that, you might be asked to take off your hat. Some people are very surprised by that and those things are all totally fine, 100 feet away from the polling place, but once you walk through those doors, they want everyone inside to feel safe to vote, however, they please, to not have any kind of undue pressure."
More information on voting requirements, etiquette and sample ballots can be found on KCENTV.com at this link.