Early voter turnout in the 2018 midterms surpassed turnout from the 2012 presidential election in the 30 Texas counties where most registered voters in the state — 78 percent — live. In the entire early voting period,  Texans cast in-person ballots and  cast mail-in ballots. This means  percent of the  registered voters in those  counties have voted.

Thirty counties where 78 percent of registered voters live

There are 16,628,103 people over age 18 living in these 30 counties.

Early voting turnout compared to previous elections

year	reg. voters	votes	percent
2018	12,255,607	4,884,528	39.9%
2016	11,631,362	5,244,959	45.1%
2014	10,705,763	2,012,845	18.8%
2012	10,342,572	4,055,378	39.2%

Percent of registered voters who voted early in 2018

The preliminary data shows turnout over 12 days of early voting in those 30 counties also surpassed the entire turnout of the 2014 midterm election — more than early voting and election-day voting combined. More than half of all those who do vote typically cast their ballots early.

The graphs below show cumulative in-person and mail-in ballot turnout in these counties. The data is preliminary. Early voting for the 2018 midterms in Texas started Oct. 22 and ran through Nov. 2. Election day is on Tuesday, Nov. 6.

Check out the ballot for the general election. Here's what you need to know about voting, and here is our issues guide for young Texans. Get The Brief for the latest 2018 Texas election news.