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    • El Paso voters and candidates speak out on final day of 2024 early voting
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    El Paso voters and candidates speak out on final day of 2024 early voting

    Umito Posted on

    Voters and candidates were numerous in El Paso as the the early voting session has ended Friday as Election Day approaches.

    El Paso County set a new record Friday for the largest day of in-person early voting with 20,000 ballots cast, breaking the old record of 19,067 set on the first day of early voting in the state election. November 2020, the county elections department said. . Election day will take place on Tuesday, November 5.

    Approximately 190,000 ballots were cast by mail or in person during the 12-day early voting period, which began Monday, October 21 and ended Friday, November 1.

    While these numbers are strong, they fall short of the more than 225,000 people cast early in the 2020 presidential election, during the COVID-19 pandemic, which could mean Election Day will be defined by long queues and frustrated voters.

    From the Marty Robbins Recreation Center on the east side to Bassett Place in the center and Van Doren Library on the west side, turnout was strong Friday. Lines of voters lined up to vote at different polling stations.

    Even on a ballot full of personalities mayoral races And El Paso City Councilmost voters were highly motivated to vote in the presidential race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump.

    Some didn’t even vote in races in El Paso County.

    El Paso City Council candidates vie for attention at Marty Robbins Recreation Center

    Although the lines at the Marty Robbins Recreation Center paled in comparison to those seen on the first day of early voting, candidates vying for the Eastridge-Mid-Valley office District 7 seat on the city council were on hand to make their case to voters as they joined the queue.

    Just in front of an orange cone marking the 100-foot limit that campaigns must follow when promoting their candidates stood council candidate Fabiola Campos-Lopez, who has visited East Side polling places over the past two recent weeks.

    “I think it’s different every election,” she said, getting her message across to voters before they go to the polls. “In some places, people are more educated and have already done their research.”

    More: El Paso Election Day 2024 Guide: What You Need to Know Before You Vote

    “(Voters) are mostly here for the presidential election, so it’s good to be here.”

    Not far away was her strongest competitor, Lily Limón, apparently leading the race.

    “I think today (voters) are really focused and coming out to vote,” she said. “They did their research.”

    Like Campos-Lopez, Limón has been canvassing District 7 over the past 12 days and successfully reaching out to voters, which she attributes largely to her prominence in the area.

    “I think I have an advantage because of my name recognition,” she said.

    Other activists were not as forthcoming: a woman holding a life-size silhouette of mayoral candidate Brian Kennedy declined to discuss early voting turnout, and nearby, a group of men huddled around a truck draped in campaign posters for Candidate for El Paso County Sheriff Oscar Ugarte declined to give their names.

    In recent days, José Chavez, who voted downtown, has been frequenting the recreation center wearing a Trump hat he bought at a local flea market. However, the election official told him that his hat constituted illegal electioneering.

    Texas election laws prohibit electioneering, including the wearing of shirts, hats or clothing for or against any candidate or political party, within 100 feet of a polling location.

    “I didn’t bother anyone in there,” Chavez said.

    Chavez’s support for Trump is rooted in the presidential candidate’s hard-man personality — tough on terrorists and tough on immigrants.

    “My big problem is that President Trump is the lesser of two evils,” he said. “I read the scriptures, and they are both bad… (but) every country in the world defends its own borders (if Trump is not elected), we are heading towards a Third World War, a war nuclear.”

    Richard Hernández, who voted Friday, disagreed.

    “I just don’t like Trump,” he said. “This is the main race.”

    He admitted to having voted against all propositions on the ballot except proposition Ewhich would allocate $32.7 million for a new county animal shelter.

    Javier Zaragoza, for his part, did not vote in the mayor’s race and did not know in which district he lived.

    “I always vote,” he mused. “I think it’s our civic duty, I think it matters.”

    Presidential election draws long lines at Bassett Place

    A long line of voters was visible in the Bassett Place lobby Friday, but security quickly informed reporters that they were not allowed on private property, per a directive from management.

    However, that didn’t stop Marina Rush from exposing what brought her to the polls.

    “We want Harris to be there,” she said. “We don’t want a second term with Trump.”

    While she considered Harris honest and reliable, she criticized Trump for derogatory remarks he made about women – including her daughter – as well as the 34 counts he was attacked earlier this year for falsifying business records.

    “I can’t believe our justice system,” Rush said. “They completely disappointed us.”

    Although she recognizes the importance of local races, Rush said the presidential race is the main draw for her.

    “I’m interested in El Paso, but what I’m really interested in is the presidency,” she said. “All these things that could happen in the future will happen much sooner (if Trump is elected). It’s a shame.”

    Trumpeter for Trump performs at the Van Doren Library

    In the Van Doren Library parking lot on Friday was David Delgado, dressed head to toe in white mariachi attire, blasting tunes in support of his candidate.

    “People don’t understand that if Harris is elected, they’re going to keep bringing in these people, these illegal immigrants, and you’re not going to be able to control the Democratic Party,” he said from behind an oversized Trump sign. “I’ve never done this for any other president, but if I had to go to war, I would fight for this guy.”

    James Barton decided to vote for mayor, but said the city council race was “kind of a toss-up.” After waiting 40 minutes to vote, he called on the El Paso County Elections Department to invest in additional voting machines.

    “People can’t wait an hour,” he said. “I’m retired, so I can, but for these workers it’s really hard.”

    Just like the District 7 race was playing in the parking lot across town, West Side District 1 candidates ” could be seen moving around the parking lot, hoping to attract last-minute voters who might still be undecided.

    “I think the turnout here has been fantastic,” said West Side City Council candidate Alejandra Chavez. “I think the voters are well-informed and well-meaning. I haven’t seen any negativity, which is great.”

    Not far away was one of her three competitors in the District 1 raceTom Handy, who has been at the library since early voting began.

    For his party, Handy said the crowds arriving at Van Doren Library were fairly evenly split between voters who know exactly who they’re supporting and those who are receptive to hearing a candidate’s message face to face.

    Although some voters avoid local races, he said local races have a real impact on a person’s daily life.

    “I think the city council has a bigger impact than the president,” he said.

    Adam Powell covers government and politics for the El Paso Times and can be reached by email at [email protected].

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