SAN ANTONIO — As polls closed in Bexar County, local officials weren't optimistic about 2022 primary-elections turnout.
Elections Administrator Jacque Callanen gave an update in a news conference at 7:30 p.m.
See some of her remarks below:
At a 4 p.m. news conference, Callanen said the county had tallied 42,459 ballots from in-person voting on Tuesday.
"Which is way down," Callanen said, giving a thumbs-down sign. "I think I'm going to be disappointed."
She said turnout appeared to be even between Republicans and Democrats.
Callanen said they were shooting for between 65,000 and 80,000 voters, but added "I think we're gonna be pressed to get to that number."
For comparison, 2018 saw just over 63,000 in-person voters on primary Election Day, while 2020 yielded nearly 114,000. There are about 1.195 million registered Bexar County voters.
Callanen also reported a major increase thus far in reject rates on mail-in ballots. She said about 35% were being rejected because those who submitted them neglected to include important identification information.
In previous years, before controversial election-law updates were passed in Texas, that reject rate was running about 2% to 3%, she added.
But voters who receive a rejection on their mail-in ballot have another chance. Callanen said they have until 5 p.m. on March 7 to visit the elections office and fix potential identification errors on mail-in ballots. Voters who received a rejection letter on their mail-in ballot application can also come into polling stations until 7 p.m. Tuesday to vote there, which would essentially nullify their mail-in ballot.
The polls remain open until 7 p.m. in Bexar County, and Callanen emphasized that voters will be able to submit a ballot so long as they're in line at that time. She also gave another reminder that Voter ID requirements remain in place, so residents will need one of the following forms of identification to vote:
- Texas Driver License issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS);
- Texas Personal Identification Card issued by DPS;
- Texas Election Identification Certificate 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).
If a voter doesn't bring one of those documents, they could also execute what's called a "Reasonable Impediment Declaration" and present a copy or original of one of the following supporting forms of ID:
- A government document that shows the voter’s name and an address, including the voter’s voter registration certificate;
- Current utility bill; bank statement; government check; paycheck
- A certified domestic (from a U.S. state or territory) birth certificate or (b) a document confirming birth admissible in a court of law which establishes the voter’s identity (which may include a foreign birth document).
Earlier in the day, Callanen said COVID-19 protocols remained in place from recent elections, including gloves, individual pencils to mark your votes, hand sanitizer and social distancing in lines.
She also addressed a question about concerns voters may have about election security given the ongoing conflict in the Ukraine.
"I wish we could tell the voters the check and balances that we have in place," Callanen said. "I am comfortable and confident that we have done everything we possibly can-nothing is perfect-but we have upped our security."