Early voting to begin on Monday for presidential, Valley elections

There’s been plenty of talk about the 2024 general election, and come Monday, voters will finally be able to put those words to action.

Polls will open for early voting Monday morning and run through Friday, Nov. 1.

This being a presidential election year with arguably one of the most tumultuous and turbulent races in recent memory heading the ticket between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, as well as federal, state and local races to be decided.

In Hidalgo County, voters will be able to cast their ballots early from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 21 through Saturday, Oct. 26; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 27; and from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 28 through Friday, Nov. 1.

Polling location in Cameron County will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 21 through Friday, Oct. 25; 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 26; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 27; and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 28 through Friday, Nov 1.

Dates and times may vary depending on the polling locations. Voters in Cameron and Hidalgo counties will be able to cast their ballots at any of the open locations in their respective counties. A complete list of polling locations in Hidalgo and Cameron counties can be found online at each counties’ elections website.

The last two presidential elections, as previously reported by The Monitor, have seen growing numbers of ballots cast during 2016 and 2020.

In Hidalgo County, there were 338,990 registered voters and 176,160 ballots cast in the 2016 presidential election, and 392,604 registered voters and 222,593 ballots cast in the 2020 presidential election.

Cameron County also saw an increase in turnout. There were 197,726 registered voters and 93,716 ballots cast in the 2016 election, and 218,661 registered voters and 115,639 ballots cast in the 2020 election.

This year’s general election includes the race for the U.S. Senate between Republican Sen. Ted Cruz and challenger Colin Allred.

Voters will also be deciding key races including the race for the U.S. House District 34 seat between Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-Brownsville, and Republican Mayra Flores.

Also drawing interest is the race for the U. S. House District 15 seat between Rep. Monica De La Cruz, R-McAllen, and Democratic challenger Michelle Vallejo.

Voters will also decide an important race for Texas state senate between Sen. Morgan LaMantia, D-South Padre Island, Republican challenger Adam Hinojosa, and Robin Lee Vargas of the Green Party.

The seat for District 37 in the Texas House of Representatives will see state Rep. Janie Lopez, R-San Benito, being challenged by Democrat Johnathan Gracia of Brownsville.