Hockley County election administrator Jody Rose reported that the number of voters casting early ballots is very low for the Texas Constitutional Election that is currently underway.
“As of 2:25 p.m. on Friday, we have had 255 voters in Hockley County cast ballots, which is approximately 2 percent of the registered voters in the county. We have 13,784 voters in the county,” said Rose.
An important election for Texas, the majority of the proposed constitutional amendments address tax cuts for homeowners and businesses, as well as the establishment of the Texas Water Fund, the Dementia Prevention and Research Fund, and changes to the bail system for accused violent offenders.
According to Rose, the significance of a Texas Constitutional Amendment election is that the people have a say in making important decisions for the entire state. Voting is how citizens ensure that their values are represented by the leaders in power.
“These are amendments to the Texas Constitution and will become law if passed. Many of the amendments on this ballot have to do with property taxes,” said Rose. “It is our right as U.S. citizens to vote, and it is important that we vote on amendments to the Constitution or the people that represent us from the federal level to the local level.”
Many major policy changes in history began as local or state initiatives. By participating in these elections, citizens can help set the stage for broader movements. Many states and municipalities put specific policy questions directly on the ballot for voters to decide, which can determine state laws.
Voter turnout is often lower for local and state elections, which means each individual vote can carry more weight and have a greater impact on the outcome. Some local races have been decided by only a handful of votes. Rose noted that it is very simple to cast ballot, saying, “In most cases it takes 5 minutes or less from to check in to completion.”
The last day for early voting is Oct. 31; election day is Nov. 4.
A brief summary of the propositions includes: Prop. 1: Texas State Technical College funding Prop. 2: Capital gains tax ban Prop. 3: Bail reform Prop. 4: Water infrastructure funding Prop; 5: Tax exemption on animal feed Prop. 6: Securities tax ban
Prop; 7: Tax exemption for veterans’ spouses Prop. 8: Inheritance tax
ban
Prop. 9: Inventory and equipment tax exemption Prop. 10: Tax exemption for homes destroyed by fire Prop. 11: School tax exemption for the elderly or disabled homeowners Prop. 12: Changing the State Judicial Conduct Commission Prop. 13: Increased school tax exemption for homeowners Prop. 14: Funding for dementia research and prevention Prop. 15: Codifying parental rights Prop. 16: Clarifying citizenship requirement for voters Prop. 17: Property tax exemption for border security infrastructure