More than half a million ballots were turned in during the opening week of early voting in Harris County, establishing a new county record and the quickest start for a midterm election since 1998. Early voting began on Monday, Oct. 19, and the milestone was reached by Saturday, Oct. 24.
The volume of early ballots reflects a notable rise in voter participation compared with earlier election cycles, underscoring heightened engagement ahead of the 2026 midterm contests.