HARLINGEN — Gone were supporters barking into bullhorns.
There were no signs of rallies near old trailers hauling candidates’ placards.
Welcome to the early voting period for June 22’s runoff elections.
In Harlingen and Raymondville, turnout was low yesterday — the first day of the early voting period that is set to close June 18.
“It’s really slow right now,” City Secretary Amanda Elizondo said at about 11:10 a.m., before rains pounded the polls at City Hall.
Elizondo cited a ballot listing just two candidates.
Elections featuring more races and candidates tend to draw more voters to the polls, she said.
“This runoff is only one district. That’s probably why,” she said, referring to the turnout that drew less than 10 voters to the polls by 11:10 a.m.
In the race for the city commission’s District 1 seat, incumbent Richard Uribe faces J.J. Gonzalez, a former commissioner.
In the May 4 election, Gonzalez, a real estate broker, received 264 votes while Uribe, a restaurant owner running for his second term, drew 256 votes.
Isidro Marquez, a retired maquiladora marketing director, fell short with 80 votes.
Last month, commissioners ordered the runoff between Gonzalez and Uribe because neither candidate drew 50 percent or more of the vote.
At City Hall, Elizondo was counting on voters to cast their ballots after work.
“It’s the first day so maybe it’ll pick up,” she said. “During the lunch hour and after 5 o’clock it’s picked up in past elections.”
Raymondville
In Raymondville, May 4’s election fanfare had died down at Reber Memorial Library, where few residents were heading to the polls.
“It’s really slow right now,” Christina Torres, Willacy County’s election’s administrator, said at about noon. “Hopefully, it will pick up.”
The commission’s Place 1 seat is still up in the air.
After 13 years in the office, incumbent Yolanda Alexandre, a retired school secretary, faces Joel Garcia, a prison major.
In the May election, Garcia received 601 votes to Alexandre’s 564.
Meanwhile, Erica Reyes-Rubalcaba, the third candidate, fell short of the runoff with 539 votes.
Early voting runs through May 18.
