Thousands across the DFW Metroplex packed the polls Saturday to cast their ballots. NBC 5’s Tahera Rahman reports on some of the excitement among voters as we wrap up the first week of early voting.
Early Voting -- What to Know
- Election Day Voter Guide: Find key dates, how to check your voter status, how to find out where and when you can vote early and on Election Day, and what you'll need to bring with you to the polls.
- When is Election Day? Tuesday, Nov. 5, is Election Day. On that day, polls will be open in Texas from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. You'll be allowed to vote if you're in line by 7 p.m. on Election Day.
- Where can I vote early? Early voting runs from Monday, Oct. 21, through Friday, Nov. 1. Click here for early voting hours and locations for Collin, Dallas, Denton and Tarrant counties.
- How many people have voted early? A record number of people voted early on Monday, the first day of early voting. Click here to see daily early voting totals from Collin, Dallas, Denton and Tarrant counties and to compare them to previous years.
- Who is on the ballot? Click the links to filter races by category or county: Federal races | State races | Collin County | Dallas County | Denton County | Tarrant County
- How can I vote by mail? The deadline is coming up. Everything you need to know is here.
"We want to rock the vote!" said DFW Metro NAACP president Crystal Bates.
She helped organize the Pack the Polls Parade on Saturday. Cars lined up donning red, white, and blue, and a message: Go vote.
"We are all nonpartisan, but we want to empower people to exercise their right to vote," Bates said.
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The caravan of voters was from across the metroplex. They met to support each other as they voted in their respective locations.
“We are going to vote in Denton County, Dallas County, Collin County, and Tarrant County," Bates said.
After the parade, a voting celebration dinner was held. They are among thousands who will cast their ballots this week.
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According to Dallas County, more than 300,000 people voted in person on Saturday at noon.
According to Tarrant County, more than 286,000 people voted in person at 7:15 a.m. on Saturday.
“I think it’s my privilege to vote and have a say in what happens in our future," said Susan Stokes, who made it to the polls on Saturday after getting off of work too late on Friday.
She's encouraging her neighbors, too.
“I’ve offered my services throughout our neighborhood down the street; if anybody needs a ride, I’m here and I’m ready to—get them up here," Stokes said.
Many took the opportunity to make it a family affair, like Sharmila Sapkota's family, who drove 30 minutes to meet their 18-year-old daughter, who also drove 30 minutes so that they could cast their ballots together.
“It was her first time, she’s excited," Sapkota said. “My husband is a physician and he doesn’t have time to vote and this is a Saturday so I’m like, ‘Let’s go!’ so I made him vote, too.”
They voted at the Bedford Public Library, where a poll worker told NBC 5 that the library had been packed all week and all day—with a line of people waiting outside even before the polls opened Saturday morning at 7 a.m.
"I just think it’s such an important part of us being American citizens to have the chance to vote, and have the freedom to share our voice," said Zach Kraemer, who voted at the library with his girlfriend.
Closing out the first week of early voting, they held their stickers-- and shared a message to their neighbors: Go vote.
“I would just say, even if you don’t think that your voice matters, it really does," Kraemer said.
