Ruby Red Texas District 7... wow.

[Amimnoch]

So, I did my civic duty today. For me, this is nothing new, since 18 I make the time to research the ballot, and vote every cycle.

I vote in Texas disrict 7.. the district of the detestible John Culberson. This is a pretty darn red district, and Culberson has been reigning for a very long time.

In 2014, 2010, and 2006... every single time I’ve gone to the mid-term primaries, the Republican side is a line of people, and full voting booths. The Democratic Party side.. walk in, sign in, vote, and go.... This is the first time I’ve voted in a mid-term primary since I moved into this area where the Democratic Party side is bustling, and the Republican side, while still having people there, a good bit less than historically observed.

I realize this is way too small a sample to really be relied upon as any kind of real indicator, but damn it gives me hope, and made my heart happy today. Just had to share.

[bearsfootball516]

1. I've seen similar stories from people on Twitter.

People going to vote in Texas and seeing long lines for the Democratic voting booths, and very short or nonexistent lines for the Republican booths.

[Stallion]

2. I Have Had Several Similiar First Hand Accounts in the Dallas area as well;

[Demsrule86]

3. Here in Ohio we stand in the same line and they ask us what ballot we want....

[Ohiogal]

4. I was just going to say that!

No such thing as a Republican side or Democratic side here in Ohio, we all stand in the same line and vote with the same machines.

[Demsrule86]

11. Yes we do...I like it better that way.

[Lisa0825]

6. I am in Texas - Galveston County - and that is how it has always been in my district too. nt

[dem in texas]

9. in Dallaa

yes at my early voting site, they ask if you want to vote Dem or Rep.. Years ago before early voting, we voted in the primaries at the local Jr. High and when you went in the door, the Dems went down the hall to the left and the Reps went to the hall on the right.

Do happy to see every seat has at least one Dem running.

I read in the Dallas Morning News that Texas has run out of new Republicans, the rural counties are the backbone of Republicans and there are few new people moving into those areas, Texas is getting lots of new people , mostly in urban areas, they are younger and are more likely to vote Dem. Yeah!

[Demsrule86]

10. I guess it depends on the local custom.

[Wounded Bear]

19. Apparently, but I consider that a mild form of intimidation...

or at least a bit discouraging if your side is not turning out to vote.

Nice to see that Dems are voting in Texas. It's been a long hard struggle, and regardless of this election's outcome, it won't be over for a while longer.

Turn Texas blue!

[LeftInTX]

28. Usually that is how it is in Bexar County..

but this year, to protect privacy, they had voters touch a piece of paper with the words Democratic or Republican.

[Demsrule86]

32. In Georgia being a Democrat after Bush's election could cost you your job...so privacy

is good.

[LeftInTX]

34. WTF???

How awful.

Voting records are public in Texas and in most states.
The Democratic Primary and the Republican Primary are two separate elections that are held on the same day.
So, if you vote in one or the other, it is public.

(Who you voted for is always private)

[Demsrule86]

36. You don't have to join a party in Georgia...

I literally saw a girl fired who was a Democrat...it happens all the time.

[LeftInTX]

37. Awful

[Demsrule86]

38. It was pretty awful. We have winter cold and snowy in Ohio...but I like it better.

[MFM008]

5. Thanks

[Billy Jingo]

7. In Tarrant County just northeast of Ft Worth

... my wife and I were the only Democratic primary voters first thing this morning. There were about 5 Republican primary voters.

The last election it was pretty crowded. I was surprised there were so few people. We usually are there at the opening.

[Wounded Bear]

20. Maybe everybody is mailing votes in....

[Scalded Nun]

8. Fingers crossed

[dixiegrrrrl]

12. Texas friend of mine sez, in Houston area:

Last I saw Dems up 105% over last midterm primary.
GOP15% of last midterm primary. This was in Houston area about 2 this afternoon.

[robbob]

13. Im confused

You were voting for who represents the district? Why would they put you in separate lines? Doesn’t that invalidate the whole idea of the privacy of the voting booth?

[gratuitous]

15. It's the primary, not the general

So there's a different ballot depending on your registration. It seems a bit odd, though, because I presume the booths are the same for either party, so what difference would it make, once you've got your ballot in hand. I suppose they've set up two receiving stations for marked ballots, and this would minimize the possibility of a ballot getting in the wrong box. Poll workers would know at a glance that someone was handing in a ballot at the wrong receiving table.

No idea. Here in my civilized state, we vote by mail. I fill out my ballot over a second cuppa watching the Flintstones.

[robbob]

21. Thank you for explaining that

To this confused Canadian DU’er!

[BumRushDaShow]

16. Apparently a "closed" primary

Like what we have here in PA. I.e., you have to announce which party ballot you intend to vote on (and here in PA, no indies are eligible for the primary as the primary process is actually run by the major parties). In Philly, they can "activate" either ballot on a machine once you announce. I expect elsewhere, depending on the voting method, you would line up by party.

Those states that have "open" primaries would be a whole other issue and I expect anyone who wants to run and is certified on the ballot, goes on there and party registration by the voter is irrelevant (although in some cases, once registered with a party and not as an "independent" (or other party) in certain states may have other requirements in terms of party-switching after a primary but before a general, etc).

[LeftInTX]

35. Technically, they are two seperate elections.

Inquiring about which election you are participating does not invalidate privacy at the voting booth. The poll workers need to know which election you will be participating in. If they don't ask, then they can't give you a ballot.

Who you vote for is always private.

[LanternWaste]

14. I grew up in West University Place. It would be a wonderful thing to see

I grew up in West University Place (part of 7). It would be a wonderful thing to see Culberson get his pink slip.

[Gothmog]

17. I am in the Harris County Democratic Party war room

[Honeycombe8]

18. It's not all encompassing, no. But it DOES mean something! Something GREAT!

[Cryptoad]

22. ♫ ♫ I ammmm ,,,,,dreaming of a ,,,,,,, Blue Texas ♫♫

[flibbitygiblets]

24. We'll have a bluuuuue....Texas....without Cruuuuuz!

[smirkymonkey]

23. Good to hear!

Thanks for the news!

[Moral Compass]

25. Same impression

I’m in District 3 in Collin county represented by the doddering octogenarian (or is it nonagenarian?) Sam Johnson who is finally retiring.

I stopped by to vote in the Democratic primary and everyone there at that early hour was a Democratic voter. This was but a brief moment in time and was very early...before 7:30 am.

On the other hand the only folks setting up to do electioneering were from the Republican side—specifically for the Huffines vs Angela Paxton race which is super nasty. Haven’t looked up the results yet on that one.

My impressions are that the Democrats are showing up and voting and the reported statistics beat that out. Don’t think many will stay home this midterm.

[BobTheSubgenius]

26. Can't possibly be anything but good news.

No, wait...Good News. If support in Texas is crumbling around the GOP, they really are screwed.

[tomp]

27. Are the votes being fairly counted? nt

[vkkv]

29. You have "SIDES" ?? in TX that separate voters by party affiliation ?!??!!

My GAWD Texas really does suck !

That situation is ripe for fraud and abuse.

[shanny]

30. it's a primary...

If it were a general election I would agree.

[Dem_4_Life]

31. Aww my Grandpa would be so proud!

We always say Donald Trump killed him. He went in to the hospital on Jan 20, 2017 and passed away Feb 21, 2017. He recently moved to San Antonio in 2015 to be closer to us however he has been a proud Houstonian since 1950 and lived in District 7 since the mid 90s. He could not STAND Culberson!!!!

We also come from a very political family and his cousin was actually a congressman and the federal courthouse in Houston is named after his cousin. The rest of that side of the family all lives over in River Oaks and Sugarland and they are all democratic voters!

My grandpa used to do business with daddy Bush and he was always very middle of the road politically however the last republican for president he voted for was GWB in 2000. The moment that he sent troops to Iraq that was the moment that he switched politically. When my grandpa was in the ICU on 1/20/17 the nurse asked him those cognitive questions and she said today there is a big national event what is it and his response "it's inauguration day NOT MY CANDIDATE" to which the nurse replied ... "he's fine"

To see Culberson voted out of office I know will make him proud even though he is not with us anymore.

[Jamaal510]

33. K&R