Polling places are marked with 100-foot distance markers to maintain a clear boundary for campaigning. Inside this designated area, electioneering, or campaigning or advocating for a specific candidate, political party, is strictly prohibited. (Jennifer Scott/Tyler Morning Telegraph File)

Voter turnout for Tuesday’s constitutional amendment election exceeded Smith County Elections Administrator Michelle Allcon’s expectations.

“The turnout has been exceptional for a constitutional amendment election,” Allcon said. “The overall total absentee, early voting and Election Day combined, we have beat the 2019 and the 2021 numbers.”

In the 2021 Constitutional Amendment Elections, 2,322 people voted early, and 8,281 people voted on Election Day, with 149,000 registered voters. In 2019, 2,649 people voted early, 13,220 people voted on Election Day, and there were 138,000 registered voters in Smith County.

After the polls closed, Allcon said 12,947 Smith County voters cast ballots on Election Day for the Constitutional Amendment Election. While the team was still working on total turnout numbers at press time, she confirmed the total at the end of the night was greater than previous years.

Allcon reported that 9,836 people voted in person during the two weeks of early voting, and 265 absentee ballots were received. There are currently about 155,000 registered voters in Smith County.

The Hub was a busy place for poll workers and voters on Tuesday. It is the county’s main voting center, but Allcon suggested voters go to other locations if they wanted to avoid crowds or limited parking. Due to demolition at the site of the county’s future parking garage adjacent to the courthouse, parking was limited for voters.

There were 14 proposed amendments on the ballot for every registered voter in Smith County, and the City of Whitehouse and Overton and the Whitehouse and Lindale Independent School Districts held special elections.

Results were not ready at press time, but if approved, Lindale ISD’s Proposition A would ratify the tax rate of $0.9542 per $100 valuation.

Whitehouse ISD’s Proposition A would ratify the tax rate of $0.9272 per $100 valuation. Proposition A would provide additional maintenance and operating funding and maximize state funding.

The City of Whitehouse, Proposition A, is a sales tax reallocation, increasing the local sales and use tax. Proposition A would change how taxes are reported to the State and how existing tax dollars are spent in the City of Whitehouse, according to a statement from the city.

The City of Overton voted for either Richard “Bubba” Howell or Curtis Gilbert for a two-year term as mayor.

Increased turnout could be attributed to more expansive news coverage of the various propositions or interest groups like teachers encouraging people to vote, according to Allcon.

“The issues on the ballot people are interested in including the local political subdivisions that are taking part in the election,” Allcon said. “It could simply be that people are more attuned to it. They’re realizing more that these elections make a difference and impact their lives.”

People are more aware of elections, what’s on the ballot and when elections are happening – all of those factors contributed to an excellent turnout Tuesday, she said.

For unofficial results of local elections and more details on statewide results, visit tylerpaper.com/elections.