Early voting: 2023 total well behind 2017 race after five days

Greg Jaklewicz, Abilene Reporter-News
·2 min read

Voting ahead of the May 6 city/school election finished the first five days 730 votes behind the same time period in 2017.

After Friday's total, 3,772 people cast in-person early votes during the week.

That compares with 4,502 counted two elections before.

The 2017 and 2023 elections are being compared because a new mayor was being chosen six years ago, too, and because the 2020 election was moved to November due to the pandemic. Voting turnout was much higher in the fall because a president was being chosen.

Friday's total of 836 was the highest of the week. But the 2017 total of 935 on the fifth day also was a high day for that election.

Voting has been steady - a range of 179 votes. Day by day, the results were:

  • Monday: 764

  • Tuesday: 783

  • Wednesday: 657

  • Thursday: 732

  • Friday: 836

The election is not without drama. The Place 4 race between Scott Beard, pastor of Fountaingate Fellowship, and Brian Yates, retired from the Air Force, is being hotly contested.

Up for election in Abilene are mayor and Places 3 and Place 4 on the Abilene City Council. All three spots will be occupied by news faces, though mayoral candidate could remain on the council. He is the current Place 4 representative.

Places 1, 4 and 5 are before voters for the Wylie ISD board, though Place 1 members Brad Hill is unopposed.

There are two more days to vote early. Here is where to vote:

Campaign signs in Abilene; early voting is underway.
Campaign signs in Abilene; early voting is underway.

Taylor County Plaza

Where: 400 Oak St., Abilene

  • Monday-Tuesday, 7 a.m.-7 p.m.

Mall of Abilene

Where: 4310 Buffalo Gap Road

  • Monday-Tuesday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

United Supermarket

Where: 3301 South 14th St., Abilene

  • Monday-Tuesday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Abilene City Hall

Where: 555 Walnut St.

  • Monday-Tuesday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Merkel City Hall

Where: 100 Kent St., Merkel

  • Monday-Tuesday, 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Merkel ISD Administration Building

Where: 314 Manchester St.

  • Monday-Tuesday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

Buffalo Gap Town Hall

Where: 709 Litel St., Buffalo Gap

  • Monday-Tuesday, 8 a.m.-noon, 1-5 p.m.

Jim Ned CISD Administration Building

Where: 441 Graham St.

  • Monday-Tuesday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

Tuscola City Hall

Where: 418 Graham St.

  • Monday-Tuesday, 8 a.m.-noon, 1-5 p.m.

This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Early voting: 2023 total well behind 2017 race after five days