Early voting turnout for Amarillo’s lone runoff election has fallen nearly 20% compared to last year, as voters prepare to decide a closely contested race for the Amarillo City Council Place 3 seat this Saturday.
A total of 5,922 residents cast in-person ballots during the early voting period from May 27 to June 3, according to election officials in Potter and Randall counties. That’s down from 7,351 voters during the 2023 runoff cycle.
The June 7 runoff features incumbent Tom Scherlen and challenger David Prescott, who advanced after neither secured a majority in the May 3 general election. Scherlen led by just 315 votes, setting up a highly competitive rematch.
Councilmember Tom Scherlen shares concerns during the discussion on cooperative purchasing at a recent Amarillo City Council meeting in City Hall.
Meet the candidates
Scherlen, a longtime Amarillo resident, worked 38 years at Austin Hose, rising from entry-level to CEO. Appointed to the council in 2023, he is also president of the Amarillo Senior Citizens Association and has prioritized public safety, fiscal responsibility, and infrastructure planning in his campaign.
Prescott has lived in Amarillo since 1990 and is the founder of an environmental consulting firm operating in Texas and New Mexico. He holds multiple degrees from West Texas A&M University and currently chairs the Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists. Prescott’s campaign focuses on transparency, community involvement, and oversight of city spending.
Council candidate David Prescott addresses residents at a community forum April 25 at Pleasant Valley Assembly of God.
Randall County drives majority of early voting
Randall County accounted for the bulk of early voting activity with 3,912 ballots cast. The Randall County Annex led all vote centers with 1,870 voters, followed by the Southwest Branch Library with 1,725. Comanche Trail Church saw 306 voters, while RCEA logged only 11.
The county’s busiest voting day was Friday, May 30, with 728 ballots cast. The lowest turnout occurred Monday, June 2, with 530 voters. Mail-in ballot activity on the first day showed 665 requests and 457 returns.
Potter County trails in early participation
Potter County recorded 2,010 early votes, with Casey Carpet One drawing the largest turnout at 615 voters. Other top locations included the Northwest Branch Library (590 voters) and the Santa Fe Building (559). Lower turnout was seen at Cornerstone Outreach (170) and the Tri-State Fairgrounds Extension Office (76).
Potter County’s highest turnout also came on May 30, when 394 voters cast ballots. The slowest day was June 2, with just 270. On May 27, the county logged 201 mail ballot requests and 156 returns.
Campaign signs are seen for city council Place 3 candidates, incumbent Tom Scherlen and challenger David Prescott, during early voting June 2 near the Randall County Annex in Amarillo. The runoff election is set for Saturday, June 7.
Election Day is Saturday: Here’s where to vote
Polls will be open Saturday, June 7, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Any registered voter in Randall or Potter County can vote at any designated vote center within their county.
Randall County vote centers
Comanche Trail Church of Christ – 2700 E. 34th St.
Southwest Church of Christ – 4515 Cornell St.
Redeemer Christian Church – 3701 S. Soncy Rd.
Southwest Public Library – 6801 SW 45th Ave.
Oasis Southwest Baptist Church – 8201 Canyon Dr.
Central Baptist Church – 1601 SW 58th Ave.
Randall County Annex – 4320 S. Western St. (north side of building)
Arden Road Baptist Church – 6701 Arden Rd.
Potter County vote centers
Casey Carpet One – 3500 I-40 W Frontage Rd.
Eastridge Lanes – 5405 E Amarillo Blvd.
Northwest Branch Library – 6100 SW 9th Ave.
Santa Fe Building – 900 S. Polk St.
Trinity Fellowship – Willow Creek Campus – 503 E. Willow Creek Dr.
Cornerstone Outreach – 1111 N. Buchanan St.
Kids, Inc. – 2201 SE 27th Ave.
Pride Home Center – 3503 NE 24th Ave.
Tri-State Fairgrounds Extension Office – 3301 SE 10th Ave.
United Citizens Forum – 903 N. Hayden St.
Voters must present an accepted form of photo identification and be registered in their respective county to vote. For sample ballots, accepted ID lists, and wait time updates, visit the Potter or Randall County election offices’ websites.
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Amarillo runoff for Place 3 is June 7 as early turnout lags