MCLENNAN COUNTY, Texas — With election day on Tuesday, local candidates hit the pavement to encourage registered voters to get to the polls.
Patricia Chisolm-Miller and Donis DL Wilson, who are the candidates for the McLennan County Precinct Two Commissioner seat, spent Monday walking and talking to voters in the area.
"I think people need to get out and vote," said Chisolm-Miller. "And when they vote they need to vote that party that's going to carry their wishes either to Washington or the McLennan County Commissioners Court."
She also said talking to the people of McLennan County put the issues into perspective for her.
"When I talk to the voters I get to hear exactly what they want out of a county commissioner. So I put that up against my platform and what I found is that im on track," said Chisolm-Miller. "A lot of people are talking about economics, their pocketbooks, their wages. We really need affordable programs and policies for working families."
Wilson said voters are ready for a change.
"Change hurts sometimes and it scares people sometime. I will tell you I am the most diverse candidate that we have," said Wilson. "This is a really ethnic area. There are blacks, whites and hispanics in this precinct and where I've come in my life it's not going to be a problem for me."
He also said he's eager to work on improving roads and East Waco.
"And make sure transportation is good for East Waco folks, North Waco Folks , South Waco and all the rural areas. It's going to be fun. I'm excited. I'm pumped up," he said.
Voter turnout records were broken in counties throughout Central Texas during the early voting period.
McLennan County elections administrators said the numbers are similar to what they'd normally see for a presidential election.
In McLennan county, more than 50,000 people came in to early vote. Election officials said they don't expect short lines at the polls Tuesday. They recommend heading to the polls early.
"So we'll have half of the voters vote on election day, so it won't be quite as crowded, but yet there still may be long lines at our polling places," said McLennan County Elections Administrator Kathy Van Wolfe.
The Waco Transit System is offering free rides to and from the polls for registered voters on Tuesday. All you have to do is show your voter registration card or your "I voted" sticker.