More than 7.6 million Texans voted before Election Day in the 2026 midterm, far above the 5.49 million who voted early in 2022, according to unofficial totals from the Texas Secretary of State reported by KHOU. The total of 7.615 million includes in-person early votes and mail ballots. That is the most early votes cast in any Texas midterm, topping the previous high of 5.49 million in 2022.
The Texas Tribune, citing preliminary state data as of Sunday morning, put the count above 7.7 million, or 40.5% of registered voters. That turnout rate passes the modern-day midterm high-water mark set in 2018, the Tribune reported.
The early vote alone is close to the 8,102,908 Texans who voted in the entire 2022 general election, Election Day included, according to the Secretary of State’s turnout history.
The state also has more voters than in past midterms. Texas has 19.04 million registered voters this year, up from 17.67 million in 2022, according to state figures.
Harris County tops 1 million
Harris County’s early vote rose 34.2% from 2022, from 750,116 to 1,006,505, according to state numbers as of 8 a.m. Sunday, KHOU reported. Other Houston-area counties also rose.
| County | 2026 early vote | Change from 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Harris | 1,006,505 | +34.2% |
| Fort Bend | 273,846 | +46.3% |
| Montgomery | 191,878 | +37.0% |
| Brazoria | 117,056 | +44.4% |
“We’re not going to hit presidential levels, but this is definitely high turnout,” Rice University political scientist Mark Jones told the Tribune. “The question that is still out there is, and this happens every time that we try to interpret early voting numbers: How many votes are actually still out there?”
Texans cast 9 million early ballots in the 2024 presidential election, according to the Tribune.
Election Day is Tuesday
The state’s official election account urged remaining voters to turn out on Tuesday.
Texans show up! More than 7.5 million Texans voted during the early voting period, with some counties still finalizing reporting. Eligible Texans who haven’t voted yet can cast their ballot on Nov. 3. Polling locations will be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
VoteTexas, Texas Secretary of State (@VoteTexas), Oct. 31, 2026
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Voters can find their polling place and ID requirements at VoteTexas.gov.
All 2026 figures are unofficial. Counties report their own totals, and numbers may change as late reports and mail ballots arrive.
