Voters across the state have a final opportunity to weigh in on a slate of 14 proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution — on measures affecting property taxes, money for state parks and pension raises for retired teachers — on Election Day Tuesday.
In Bexar County, voters will select two new members of the San Antonio River Authority’s board of directors from among five candidates.
More than 250 voting centers around the county are scheduled to open at 7 a.m. for people who didn’t cast a ballot during early voting.
Voters in Bexar County cast 62,614 ballots during 12 days of early voting for a 5.5% turnout, according to Elections Administrator Jacque Callanen.
Here’s more information about the election:
What’s on the ballot?
For a detailed explanation of the 14 proposed constitutional amendments, go here. The propositions include:
- Proposition 2, which would permit cities and counties to exempt child care providers from paying property taxes for facilities used for child care centers. Getting a property tax break of at least 50% would help ease financial pressures on child care providers facing the loss of pandemic relief money, proponents say.
- Proposition 4, which would lower property tax payments for property owners as part of a package of cuts to school property taxes and other tax relief measures. The amendment also would raise the state’s homestead exemption from $40,000 to $100,000 and place a temporary cap on appraisals for certain commercial, mineral and residential properties that do not have a homestead exemption.
- Proposition 6, which would create a state water fund to pay for water infrastructure projects, repair existing systems that are deteriorating and acquire more water sources.
- Proposition 8, which would create a fund for broadband infrastructure projects. The $1.5 billion fund would pay for the expansion of internet access across the state.
- Proposition 9, which would provide a cost-of-living adjustment for some retired teachers’ pensions. Teachers who retired before 2004 haven’t had a pension increase since 2013 despite increasing inflation, Tim Lee, the Texas Retired Teachers Association’s executive director, told The Texas Tribune.
- Proposition 13, which would raise the mandatory retirement age for judges from 75 to 79.
- Proposition 14, which would create a $1 billion fund for the creation and improvement of state parks. Among other uses, the fund would be used to purchase more land for state parks.
In addition to the constitutional amendment election, the San Antonio River Authority is holding nonpartisan elections for two at-large members. The two candidates with the highest number of votes will join four river authority district representatives for Bexar County on the 12-person board, which also includes at-large members from Wilson, Karnes and Goliad counties.
The candidates are:
- Joseph “Joedy” Yglesias, who followed his military career by becoming a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department guide and a Texas Master Naturalist and Waters Specialist.
- Patrice Melancon, a military veteran who operates a consulting firm specializing in water resources and flood control.
- Dan Rossiter, a computer scientist who worked at Southwest Research Institute for 10 years and was a founding member of the San Antonio Mobility Coalition’s Emerging Mobility Technologies subcommittee. He sought the open District 7 City Council seat earlier this year.
- Joel Solis, who has decades of engineering experience and worked in Washington, D.C., for a national trade association. He ran for the vacant District 10 City Council seat this year.
- Liza González Barratachea, who has served in staff roles for several City Council members, worked for the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce and led the San Antonio Hotel and Lodging Association.
Read more about the candidates here.
Several Bexar County municipalities — Windcrest, Helotes, Schertz, Converse and Hill Country Village — are holding elections, as well.
To see a sample ballot, click here.
When are the polls open?
Voting centers are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Where can I vote?
The Bexar County Elections Department will operate 255 voting centers throughout San Antonio, and registered voters can cast a ballot at any location. Find a list of voting centers here.
How can I determine if I’m registered to vote?
In order to vote, you need to be registered. The deadline to register for this election was Oct. 10. You can check your voter registration status here. All you need are a few things: Voter Unique Identifier (VUID) or Texas driver’s license number, your name, county and date of birth.
Make sure your voter information is up to date. If your address or name has changed, your voter information must be updated.
How do I know if I’m eligible to vote?
You are eligible to vote if you registered by the Oct. 10 deadline and are:
- A U.S. citizen
- A resident of the county where you submit your voter registration application
- At least 18 years old on Election Day
- Not a convicted felon (you may be eligible to vote if you have completed your sentence, probation and parole)
- Not been declared by a court exercising probate jurisdiction to be either totally mentally incapacitated or partially mentally incapacitated without the right to vote.
What do I need to bring with me to vote?
When voting in person, Texans are required to provide one of the following forms of identification:
- Texas driver’s license
- Texas election identification certificate
- Texas personal identification card
- Texas handgun license
- U.S. military identification card containing your photograph
- U.S. citizenship certificate with your photograph
- U.S. passport
Is it too late to vote by mail?
The deadline to apply to vote by mail was Oct. 27. If you received a mail-in ballot, it must be received by the elections department by Election Day, Nov. 7. If your ballot is postmarked by 7 p.m. that day, it will still be counted if the elections department receives it by 5 p.m. on Nov. 8.
