See state and local election office websites for more detailed and official information. Texas voters Tuesday will decide 10 proposed state constitutional amendments. Around one-fifth of voters were undecided in each survey. Absentee voting is available if you meet any of the criteria below. Enter your address into the Ballotpedia sample ballot lookup below to see the candidates Ballotpedia is covering in your upcoming elections. Some will cast ballots in three special elections for Texas House seats. Elections in Texas Learn about all of the 2020 elections in Texas by following the links below. by Texas Tribune Staff Send her politics and policy questions, news tips, or food recommendations! María Méndez, Politics Reporting Fellow. Elections in Texas Learn about all of the 2020 elections in Texas by following the links below. In 1993, voters approved this amendment pushed by then-Lt. Gov. Six Republicans and one Democrat are running for the Fort Bend County district. Royce West and Nathan Johnson tried to preserve language that the income tax ban would apply to “natural persons” and not “individuals.” They cautioned that using “individual” could exempt corporations. The Texas GOP has not lost a statewide election since 1994. *You can find your voting precinct location by using our search site "My Voter Page", which will be populated with voting sites two days prior to election day. Proposition 5 seeks to secure funding for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Historical Commission from state sales taxes imposed on sporting goods. Nov. 5, 201912 AM. In general, polling locations will have guidelines in place for social distancing and regular cleaning. Proposition 2 would allow the Texas Water Development Board to issue additional bonds to improve water access through the Economically Distressed Areas Program. District … If voters approve it, two-thirds of the Texas House and Senate would have to vote to repeal the amendment and call a statewide election to establish an income tax. They see the race as a harbinger of their 2020 prospects for winning a majority in the lower chamber. You’ll want to check for open polling locations with, Yes. The winner of the state gets all 38 electoral votes. Voting signs near the Travis County Granger Building election site on Election Day, Nov. 5, 2019. Bob Bullock, a Democrat. If anyone tries to stop you, call the Election Protection Hotline at 1-866-687-8683. The proposition would include all Texas depositories, including the first state-run depository expected to open in Leander early next year, and apply to the metals gold, silver, palladium, rhodium and platinum. Here’s what those propositions, including a controversial ban on a state income tax, could mean for Texans. Cancer research funding. But opponents say they will raise state debt, so the funding should come from revenue the state allocates to agencies. CORRECTIONS, Oct. 21, 2019, 9:13 a.m.: An earlier version of this story omitted Proposition 2 and incorrectly said Proposition 6 will increase cancer research funding from $3 million to $6 million instead of $3 billion to $6 billion. Additionally, you can confirm with your county elections office whether Election Day voting is restricted to locations in your designated precinct or if you can cast a ballot at any polling place. Their effort failed, but the Legislature did amend the tax code to define an “individual” as a “natural person.". Texas is one of just a few states that hasn’t opened up mail-in voting to any voter concerned about getting COVID-19 at a polling place. “It’s placing hurdles on a future generation,” said Dick Lavine of the left-leaning Center for Public Policy Priorities. Election Day ballots feature 10 constitutional amendments, three vacant Texas House seats and one heated Houston mayoral race Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. today. Show us with your support. Election Day is Nov. 3. We want your help in reporting on those challenges. Important 2021 Election … It is meant to create a steady revenue stream for the state’s parks. Municipal judges, who issue warrants and rule on city violations, can be elected or appointed by city councils, depending on a city’s charter. “We think that the people of Texas are the ultimate say in who they elect and how they vote in a constitutional amendment election,” he said. Other propositions would allow the Legislature to create temporary property tax exemptions for people with property damaged in governor-declared disaster areas, let lawmakers double the maximum amount of bonds issued on behalf of the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas and create a flood infrastructure fund that the Texas Water Development Board could use to finance projects following a disaster. But the proposition does not guarantee an exemption for property affected by a disaster after the local tax rate has been set, the House Research Organization reports. Proposition 4 would require two-thirds of the House and Senate and a majority of Texas voters to establish such a tax. Contact, 12 Democrats, two Republicans and an independent candidate. Proposition 4, authored by Republican Rep. Jeff Leach of Plano, would strike that amendment and add language that the Legislature “may not impose a tax on the net incomes of individuals.” The Legislature narrowly approved it in May. The General Land Office can currently distribute $300 million to the fund per year, which gives schools funding for each student and textbooks. Some voters will also cast ballots to fill three vacant Texas House seats. Dallas Sens. Proposition 1 would allow voters to elect municipal judges to serve in multiple cities at the same time. You’ll want to check for open polling locations with your local elections office before you head out to vote. By signing up you agree to our privacy policy, Stand with us in our mission to discover and uncover the story of North Texas. Texas will hold its 2020 runoff elections July 14 to finalize which Democratic and Republican primary candidates will be on the ballot for the November general election. In-person early voting in Texas starts today. Early voting for the 2020 general election runs from Oct. 13 to Oct. 30. See Secs. The House District 100 race to replace former state Rep. Eric Johnson, who is now Dallas’ mayor, features four Democrats. Now he’s the face of a Dallas company’s new boots line, Former French Room chef opens enchilada restaurant Lada near Richardson, These North Texas entrepreneurs are among Forbes’ richest self-made women. At a time when newsroom resources and revenue across the country are declining, The Texas Tribune remains committed to sustaining our mission: creating a more engaged and informed Texas with every story we cover, every event we convene and every newsletter we send. Law enforcement animals, such as dogs and horses, are considered public property, and the Texas Constitution generally prohibits the transfer of public property without payment. But the House Research Organization notes that there are local, state and federal funds available for these projects and that some state funding for the fund is meant to be used only after a disaster takes place. Voters can cast ballots at any polling location in the county where they are registered to vote during early voting. Lulu Seikaly (D) ~ Attorney. María Méndez is a politics reporter in The Dallas Morning News' Austin bureau. Poll workers will likely be wearing face masks and other protective equipment, but masks will not be required for voters. Many newspapers publish Election Day polling locations as well. Proposition 8 would create a Flood Infrastructure Fund in the state treasury for the Texas Water Development Board to pay for drainage, flood mitigation or flood-control projects. The deadline to register to vote in the 2020 general election is Oct. 5. The Legislature approved them in May. If you have been diagnosed with COVID-19 or are exhibiting symptoms, consider requesting an emergency mail-in ballot or using curbside voting. Here’s a look at the proposed amendments and biggest races being decided. Yes. Texas is second only to California with electoral votes. We also wrote a handy guide that outlines your voting rights. The federal election dates and deadlines presented here have been collected from the official websites of chief election offices in all states and territories. Election Day voting hours are 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at all polling places statewide. But the House Research Organization notes that the proposition could raise future questions about Texas’ “one person, one office” election rule and about whether municipal judges can adequately balance work for two municipalities. Copyright © 2020 The Dallas Morning News. Turner’s challengers have found ample fodder for attacks, targeting him over the city’s finances, crime and post-Harvey flood mitigation efforts. Proposition 3 would temporarily exempt property owners in a governor-declared disaster area from a portion of the taxes for the property’s appraised value. “I don't view this in any way that the people in Texas have less power than they had before.”. The other 95% who are appointed are already allowed to serve in more than one office. Supporters say these bonds are necessary to help Texans without safe access to water.