PFLUGERVILLE, Texas — So far in Texas, more than 6.3 million people have already cast their ballots. That is more than 70% of the overall turnout the state saw in 2016 for the November general election. Texas is just one of five states where voting by mail has not been expanded during the pandemic, but according to the results of an exclusive Spectrum News/Ipsos poll, Texans preferred other methods of voting anyway.

What You Need To Know

  • The complete results of the poll can be viewed here

  • Spectrum News/Ipsos conducted a poll of 1,000 Texans on state and national issues

  • 36% said they prefer to vote early and in person 

  • Both Texas Democrats and Republicans signaled they prefer to vote in person than by mail 

As a U.S. Army veteran, Jimmy Stratton stands for democracy, and voting fulfills that duty.

“As long as I can walk I’m going to vote in person,” Stratton told Spectrum News.

The 72-year-old is eligible to vote by mail in Texas under the current rules, but the retired state worker chose to wait in line in Travis County instead.  

“I don’t think it counts more, but I know it’s going to count, whereas other ways it may not get counted, and that’s a problem,” Stratton said.

According to the poll, there is a strong preference for voting in person – twice as many Texans prefer to vote in person instead than by mail. Most of those or 36% said they prefer to vote before Election Day.

While Democrats and voting rights groups unsuccessfully tried to expand who can vote by mail during the pandemic in Texas, our poll shows even Democrats overwhelmingly want to vote in person this year. Unlike other areas of the country where we see a partisan divide on voting preferences, a majority of both Democrats, 58%, and Republicans, 69%, said they prefer to vote in person.

“I don’t really trust the mail,” voter Terrie Fickle said, laughing.

With her identification in her hands, Fickle said she thinks the line will be even longer come November 3. She also expressed concerns about inundating the postal service with absentee ballots.

“I just was concerned that it wouldn’t be in a timely fashion and it would prolong the results,” Fickle said.

Three-quarters, or 78%, of respondents were confident their vote would be counted if they voted in person on Election Day, and 76% were confident about it if they voted prior to Election Day. However, just 50% feel the same way about a mail or absentee ballot, while 41% are not confident. 

Most are in favor expanding mail-in voting, though. Fifty-six percent of respondents support all Texans being able to vote by mail without an excuse. In order to be able to vote by mail in Texas, voters must be 65 years or older, out of the county during the voting period, sick, living with a disability, or in jail but otherwise qualified to vote.

Twenty-seven year old Marquia Thompson was on crutches, choosing to vote in person in Plfugerville. The Houston native feels voting by mail should be an option regardless of her injury or age.

“It should be open to everyone who feels that they don’t want to physically come out and vote but they still want their vote to count,” Thompson said.

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