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Early voting in the Farmers Branch mayoral runoff wrapped up Tuesday, setting the stage for a Saturday showdown between incumbent Terry Lynne and challenger Jaime Rivas.
The runoff was triggered after neither candidate received more than 50% of the vote in the May 2 election. Just 278 votes separated the top two candidates in that race, underscoring how much effect a relatively small number of voters can have on the outcome.
Turnout during the runoff's nine-day early voting period outpaced the May general election at the locations most frequently used by Farmers Branch residents. Through Monday, Farmers Branch Manske Library recorded 2,631 early voters, up from 2,298 in May. Dallas College Brookhaven Campus saw 264 early voters in the runoff, compared with 466 in May.
Those site-by-site numbers, however, don't tell the full story of where Farmers Branch residents voted. Because Dallas County operates vote centers, meaning any registered voter can cast a ballot at any participating location, not all Farmers Branch residents necessarily voted at Farmers Branch sites, and some of the voters counted at Manske and Brookhaven may live in other cities. A precinct-level look at the voter detail data reflects that reality.
Voters registered in 75234, the primary Farmers Branch ZIP code, cast 2,666 early ballots during the runoff across 10 precincts, compared with 2,313 in May, an increase of 353 voters, or about 15 percent. Voters in precincts 2305 and 2307, which fall within the 75244 ZIP code but include Farmers Branch neighborhoods, added another 223 early ballots in the runoff, compared with 187 in May.
Combined, voters in those Farmers Branch-area precincts cast at least 2,889 early ballots, roughly 44 percent of the runoff's total countywide early vote of 6,522, which included the cities of Irving, DeSoto, Lancaster, Sachse and Seagoville.
Turnout was not uniform across precincts. Precinct 2301 led all local precincts with 609 early voters, up 140 from May. Precincts 2316 and 2306 also posted notable gains. Precincts 2308 and 2309 saw modest declines.
The Dallas County Elections Department had not yet posted final early voting totals reflecting June 9, the last day of early voting, as of press time. The numbers above cover eight of the nine early voting days.
Overall countywide turnout remained a fraction of the May election's 48,000-plus early voters, which is typical for a runoff with fewer entities on the ballot and a more targeted electorate.
If you have not voted yet, Election Day is Saturday, June 13. Unlike May, fewer polling locations are available because only a limited number of entities are participating in the joint runoff. Voters should verify their polling location before heading out.
Vivian Field Middle School and Janie Stark Elementary School will join the roster for Election Day voting centers. The Dallas County Elections Training Center and Warehouse at 1460 Round Table Dr. will be the only voting center open in the City of Dallas for the runoff.
As with early voting, any registered voter may cast a ballot at any open voting center on Election Day, regardless of which city that location is in.
The Branch Herald has published candidate questionnaires, election coverage and voter information throughout this cycle. Whether you support one candidate, the other or remain undecided, Saturday is your last opportunity to have a say.
Local government often has a greater direct impact on neighborhoods than state or national politics. The people elected this weekend will make decisions about the future of Farmers Branch long after the campaign signs disappear.
If you want a voice in those decisions, make a plan to vote.
Election Day voting runs from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, June 13.
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