The polls for the special election to fill the Texas House District 125 seat closed tonight at 7.
During early voting, about 3,300 people cast a ballot. But on Election Day, turnout seemed to be much lower.
Bexar County Elections Administrator Jacque Callanen said as of 4 p.m., about 1,400 people cast a ballot. She expected overall between 1,500 and 2,000 people to vote Tuesday and not many more.
“Our voters in Bexar County have embraced early voting," she said. "They love early voting, so normally we get about 60 to 65 percent of our turnout in early voting."
Callanen said it is typical for special elections like this to have low voter turnout, and this election could see about 4 to 5 percent of the 113,000 registered voters in the district.
The district is well within Interstate 10 and Highway 151 and stretches from Highway 90 in the south to Loop 1604 to the north.
Four Democrats and one Republican ran to fill the seat of Democratic State Rep. Justin Rodriguez of San Antonio, who accepted an appointment in January to fill the seat of late Bexar County Commissioner Paul Elizondo.
The Democrats include social activist Steve Huerta, former San Antonio City Councilman Ray Lopez, education policy expert Coda Rayo-Garza, and former District 125 State Rep. Art Reyna. Republican Fred Rangel is a former member of the state Republican Executive Committee.
Callanen said the top vote-getter will win the special election if they win more than half the total vote. If not, the top two vote-getters will face off in a special election to be set by Texas Governor Greg Abbott.
"Fifty percent plus one vote; we need to break that threshold,” Callanen said.
You can report any problems at the polls to the Secretary of State's office by calling 1-800-252-8683.
Joey Palacios can be reached at Joey@TPR.org and on Twitter at @Joeycules.
Brian Kirkpatrick can be reached at Brian@TPR.org and on Twitter at @TPRBrian.
