HOUSTON (AP) — As rapper Bun B completed his late-night set throughout a drive-in live performance to advertise eight 24-hour polling locations in and round Houston, he urged followers to exit into the evening — and early morning — to vote.

“It feels good to see my individuals on the market which can be able to vote, able to be heard … If you happen to haven’t voted but, it’s worthwhile to drive on over. The polls are open proper now,” the Houston-based performer stated throughout the livestreamed live performance Thursday.

Many adopted the rapper’s recommendation as they flocked to the polling websites in Harris County — Texas’ most populous county — to forged their ballots beginning late Thursday and into Friday.

“It’s very handy, particularly for these those who work at evening and sleep throughout the day,” Silveria Sanchez, 36, an emergency medical technician dispatcher, stated after voting round 12:30 a.m. Friday throughout a break from her in a single day shift on the Texas Medical Middle. She walked 5 minutes to forged her poll at a polling station at a meals courtroom within the sprawling Houston hospital complicated.

Harris County officers have launched some modern efforts to make it simpler to vote within the presidential election. In addition to the 24-hour polling websites, the county affords drive-thru voting, and has inspired its voters to forged their ballots early. By Thursday night, the county had surpassed its total 2016 voter turnout of 1.three million. That spike got here at the same time as Harris County challenged the state over limits on mail-in voting and drop-off packing containers for absentee ballots.

“Hopefully sooner or later, dozens of counties observe our lead and supply an evening of 24-hour voting to help their voters,” stated Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins.

Voting websites that keep open 24 hours are uncommon, based on Michael Pomante, an assistant professor of political science at Jacksonville College in Florida. In March, Los Angeles County supplied six 24-hour voting places throughout the presidential major.

“Harris County appears to be doing what they’ll on the county stage to enhance entry to the polls,” Pomante stated.

Some who attended Bun B’s live performance Thursday evening then drove to a close-by polling website at NRG Area, which noticed a gentle stream of late evening and early morning voters. Some danced as a DJ stored the get together entering into a car parking zone.

By round 11 p.m. Thursday, Claudia Macias, 46, an educator from Houston, had forged her poll and was standing outdoors the world within the chilly evening air. She recalled how a lady who voted earlier than her was escorting her a lot older mom who had “dressed to the nines” to exit and vote.

The girl apologized to Macias as a result of her mom was sluggish.

“I’m going: ’We’ve 24 hours. You don’t fear in regards to the time. You let her take her time to go in there and forged her vote,’” Macias stated.

About three miles (5 kilometers) away on the Texas Medical Middle, Ashley Lee, 32, Christian Mata, 24, and Tiffany Wiltz voted at round 1 a.m. They’re all pharmacy technicians at Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Middle and normally work till 11 p.m.

Lee stated having the 24-hour voting website on the medical heart made sense as many well being care staff have shifts that may make it tough to vote.

“We work lengthy hours. That is good,” stated Wiltz.

At Victory Worship Middle, a church in north Houston, a gentle stream of voters got here in late Thursday evening and early Friday. By round 2 a.m., the tempo had slowed.

“I used to be stunned how many individuals got here in. We’ve had stream,” stated Herman Williams, the precinct decide on the polling station.

At a multiservice heart in Kashmere Gardens, considered one of Houston’s traditionally African American neighborhoods, Felix Sylvester, 65, was the one particular person casting a poll at round three a.m. Friday.

He voted after ending his shift at a grain silo in suburban Houston at round 2 a.m. Sylvester stated he hopes the county has 24-hour voting places in future elections.

“It could accommodate these of us who need to keep away from these traces and it could additionally accommodate these of us who’ve these type of bizarre hours,” he stated.

Harris County Decide Lina Hidalgo, the county’s high elected official, stated she hopes 24-hour voting places will turn into everlasting.

“People need to take part. They only must be invited. This effort is a part of that. It’s a part of actually opening the doorways of presidency,” Hidalgo stated.

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Observe Juan A. Lozano on Twitter: https://twitter.com/juanlozano70