Early voting numbers abysmal; mayoral candidates address voter apathy

Voter turnout for the May 2017 election was abysmal, and it seems the June 10 runoff will fare the same.

Early voting statistics from El Paso County Elections department showed that two days before early voting ended, only 11,915 ballots were cast. Early voting began May 30 and ends June 6.

That’s a little more than half the numbers seen during the same period in the last mayoral runoff election.

In the 2013 mayoral runoff election, 20,291 ballots were cast two days prior to early voting ending. In total, more than 27,000 people voted during early voting.

“I think it’s a pity that we are not voting,” El Paso voter Silvia Armijo said.

The numbers are startling.

There are 360,000 registered voters in El Paso County, yet fewer than 12,000 people have cast their ballot so far in this year’s mayoral runoff election.

“I think one reason is that it is an off year and people don’t come out as much when you don’t have a presidential election. A run off is another reason people don’t show up to vote,” said El Paso voter Susan Guerra.

The El Paso Times recently reported both mayoral candidates have voted in Republican primaries.

The paper also reported that is why the El Paso County Democratic Party is encouraging voters to undervote. That happens when a voter casts a ballot but does not make a selection in a particular race.

The party chairwoman Iliana Holguin is quoted as saying, “That’s an option for those who do not agree with the values of the two candidates.”

This move both candidates say would hurt more than help El Paso.

“That is very disappointing. First of all this is a non-partisan election. It should not have any basis whether we are Republican or Democrat from our prior lives or our historical voting preferences,” mayoral candidate Dee Margo said.”

“This is another example of party over the people. And at a moment when voter apathy is at an all time high and people need to come out and vote, to be advocating for something like that is really unfortunate. And I believe the people of El Paso deserve better,” mayoral candidateSaucedo said.

ABC 7 reached out to Chairwoman Iliana Holguin for a comment, but did not receive a call back.