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Early voting for the general election is underway in Travis County. Are you registered to cast your ballot?
Election Day is just around the corner, and we want to help make doing your civic duty easier.
Before you go
Don’t forget one of the seven valid forms of your photo ID — you won’t be able to vote without it.
- Campaigning is forbidden within 100 ft of the polling place, so leave anything publicizing candidates at home.
- If you’d like to bring a guide, make sure it is on paper, as cell phones are not permitted while casting your ballot. (Aka, print this article out before ya go.)
- Find your neighborhood polling location here.
Key dates to keep in mind:
- Friday, Oct. 27 is the last day to apply for a mail-in ballot for the general election.
- Friday, Nov. 3 is the last day of early voting.
- Tuesday, Nov. 7 is Election Day.
The deadline to register has already passed, but you can register to vote in future elections (and double check that you’re registered) here. Without further ado, here’s what you need to know about what’s on the ballot.
Travis County topics
Travis County voters will decide on two local propositions. Learn more about these projects and view the full sample ballot here.
- If passed, Proposition A would allocate $233+ million in road bonds for improvements, construction, land acquisitions, and maintenance on bike lanes, sidewalks, and bridges for Travis County roads.
- If passed, Proposition B would issue $276+ million in bonds to improve, conserve, and create Travis County parks.
Residents in Lago Vista and Jonestown have mayoral and City Council seats up for contest. Manor voters will have an additional three propositions, and Pflugerville residents have two additional propositions.
State Propositions
These 14 items propose an amendment to the state constitution.
- Proposition 1 proposes a constitutional amendment “protecting the right to engage in farming, ranching, timber production, horticulture, and wildlife management.”
- Proposition 2 proposes “authorizing a local option exemption from ad valorem taxation by a county or municipality of all or part of the appraised value of real property used to operate a childcare facility.”
- Proposition 3 proposes “prohibiting the imposition of an individual wealth or net worth tax, including a tax on the difference between the assets and liabilities of an individual or family.”
- Proposition 4 would:
- Authorize the legislature to establish a temporary limit on the maximum appraised value of real property, other than a residence homestead, for ad valorem tax purposes
- Increase the exemption from ad valorem taxation by a school district applicable to residence homesteads from $40,000 to $100,000
- Adjust the amount of the limitation on school district ad valorem taxes imposed on the residence homesteads of the elderly or disabled to reflect increases in certain exemption amounts
- Except certain appropriations to pay for ad valorem tax relief from the constitutional limitation on the rate of growth of appropriations
- Authorize the legislature to provide for a four-year term of office for a member of the board of directors of certain appraisal districts
- Proposition 5 would amend the constitution “relating to the Texas University Fund, which provides funding to certain institutions of higher education to achieve national prominence as major research universities and drive the state economy.”
- Proposition 6 proposes creating a “Texas water fund to assist in financing water projects in this state.”
- Proposition 7 proposes creating a “Texas energy fund to support the construction, maintenance, modernization, and operation of electric generating facilities.”
- Proposition 8 proposes creating a “broadband infrastructure fund to expand high-speed broadband access and assist in the financing of connectivity projects.”
- Proposition 9 proposes “authorizing the 88th Legislature to provide a cost-of-living adjustment to certain annuitants of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas.”
- Proposition 10 proposes “authoriz[ing] the legislature to exempt from ad valorem taxation equipment or inventory held by a manufacturer of medical or biomedical products to protect the Texas healthcare network and strengthen our medical supply chain.”
- Proposition 11 proposes authorizing “the legislature to permit conservation and reclamation districts in El Paso County to issue bonds supported by ad valorem taxes to fund the development and maintenance of parks and recreational facilities.”
- Proposition 12 proposes “the abolition of the office of county treasurer in Galveston County.”
- Proposition 13 proposes “increas[ing] the mandatory age of retirement for state justices and judges.”
- Proposition 14 proposes creating a “centennial parks conservation fund to be used for the creation and improvement of state parks.”
See you at the polls.