Tuesday, Nov. 3 is voting day in Texas. There are seven constitutional amendments on the statewide ballot, with some Bexar County voters also voting on special legislative election, others of a Northeast Independent School District bond, and some voters deciding a San Antonio River Authority seat, among other ballot issues.
Click here for a general sample ballot. Click here to find your specific sample ballot and specific polling place on Election Day by address, polls opened at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. Click here to find your sample ballot and polling site based on your voter registration information.
Northeast Independent School District
The NEISD’s 2015 Bond Committee held an early voting kickoff rally at Jackson Middle School in October in support of the district’s $499 million proposed bond. Co-Chair Reagan Greer, the father of an NEISD student, led the rally. The proposed bond includes 69 projects in the district without a tax rate increase. The projects focus on school improvements, with 75% of the money going toward aging campuses, security upgrades, and technology advancements. For Greer, technology and security improvements were the most important issues.
“The big thing for me, from a dad perspective, is to take care of my own kids, but on a macro perspective you’ve got to look at what is best for the district and especially technology and security were my hot buttons,” he said. “The kids of today in the school system that we have need to stay on the cutting edge.”
Technology improvements include upgraded computers, iPads, coding classes, and smart boards. The security upgrades include video surveillance improvements, keyless entry areas, and technology equipment upgrades for the NEISD police force.
“Every student deserves to be in an environment where they feel safe and comfortable,” Greer said. “That’s why we are really glad to see the security upgrades that are part of this package.”
Click here for more information on the bond program.
Seven Constitutional Amendments
Proposition 1 – SJR 1
“The constitutional amendment increasing the amount of the residence homestead exemption from ad valorem taxation for public school purposes from $15,000 to $25,000, providing for a reduction of the limitation on the total amount of ad valorem taxes that may be imposed for those purposes on the homestead of an elderly or disabled person to reflect the increased exemption amount, authorizing the legislature to prohibit a political subdivision that has adopted an optional residence homestead exemption from ad valorem taxation from reducing the amount of or repealing the exemption, and prohibiting the enactment of a law that imposes a transfer tax on a transaction that conveys fee simple title to real property.”
For an analysis on the costs of this proposition, click here to read the CPPP report.
Proposition 2 – HJR 75
“The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide for an exemption from ad valorem taxation of all or part of the market value of the residence homestead of the surviving spouse of a 100 percent or totally disabled veteran who died before the law authorizing a residence homestead exemption for such a veteran took effect.”
Proposition 3 – SJR 52
“The constitutional amendment repealing the requirement that state officers elected by voters statewide reside in the state capital.”
Proposition 4 – HJR 73
“The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to permit professional sports team charitable foundations to conduct charitable raffles.”
Proposition 5 – SJR 17
“The constitutional amendment to authorize counties with a population of 7,500 or less to perform private road construction and maintenance.”
Proposition 6 – SJR 22
“The constitutional amendment recognizing the right of the people to hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife subject to laws that promote wildlife conservation.”
Proposition 7 – SJR 5
“The constitutional amendment dedicating certain sales and use tax revenue and motor vehicle sales, use, and rental tax revenue to the state highway fund to provide funding for nontolled roads and the reduction of certain transportation-related debt.”
For an analysis on the costs of this proposition, click here to read the CPPP report.
Texas House District 118
A special election to fill the unexpired term of state Rep. Joe Farias (D-18) has drawn six candidates, three Democrats and three Republicans. The Democrats: Rep. Farias’ son, Gabe Farias, Tomas Uresti, and Anthony Alcoser. The three Republicans: Robert Casias, Michael Holdman, and John Lujan.
The district reaches from far northeast San Antonio, Selma, Live Oak and Universal City east to St. Hedwig and into Guadalupe County, south of Elmendorf and along I-37 into Atascosa County, north past Van Ormy and into San Antonio along I-35 south of Hwy. 90.
San Antonio River Authority Place
Only one of the five board seats is contested and is on the ballot. Place Three incumbent Michael Lackey faces challenger Donald Oroian. Place Three has the same political boundaries as Place Three in Bexar County held by Commissioner Kevin Wolff. Place Four incumbent Thomas Weaver is not seeking re-election and will be replaced by Jim Campbell who is on the ballot.
*Top image: A voter walks into the Central Library polling location with less than an hour to spare. Photo by Scott Ball.
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