Constitutional Amendment Election
Early voting:
Full-time locations
Mobile locations
If passed, the sixteen will join over 400 other amendments added to the Constitution since its adoption in 1876. That makes the Texas Constitution one of the longest, and most convoluted, such documents in the United States.
If you're really, really interested, the basic document can be found at http://tlo2.tlc.state.tx.us/txconst/toc.html.
Early voting runs through November 2nd.
~Keith Huntsman
Sample ballots:
in English
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PROPOSITION 2 provides for issuing $500 million in general obligation bonds to finance student loans and authorizes bond enhancement agreements for general obligation bonds issued for that purpose.
PROPOSITION 3 authorizes the Legislature to provide that the maximum appraised value of a residence homestead for ad valorem taxation is the lesser of these: the most recent market value of the home as determined by the appraisal entity or 110 percent -- or a greater percentage-- of the appraised value of the home for the preceding tax year.
PROPOSITION 4 authorizes issuance of up to $1 billion in bonds for maintenance, improvement, repair and construction projects and for the purchase of equipment.
PROPOSITION 5 authorizes the Legislature to permit the voters of a municipality with a population under 10,000 to authorize its governing body to enter an agreement with an owner of real property in or adjacent to the municipality that has been approved for funding under certain programs administered by the Texas Department of Agriculture. Would allow the parties to agree that all ad valorem taxes imposed on the owner's property may not be increased for the first five tax years after the tax year in which the agreement is entered into.
PROPOSITION 6 authorizes the Legislature to exempt from ad valorem taxation one motor vehicle that the owner uses in his or her occupation or profession and for personal activities.
PROPOSITION 7 allows governmental entities to sell property acquired through eminent domain back to the previous owners at the price the entities paid to acquire the property.
PROPOSITION 8 clarifies certain provisions relating to the making of a home equity loan and use of home equity loan proceeds.
PROPOSITION 9 authorizes the Legislature to exempt all or part of the residence homesteads of certain totally disabled veterans from ad valorem taxation and authorizes a change in the manner of determining the amount of the existing exemption from ad valorem taxation to which a disabled veteran is entitled.
PROPOSITION 10 abolishes the constitutional authority for the office of inspector of hides and animals.
PROPOSITION 11 requires that a recorded vote be taken by a house of the Legislature on final passage of any bill, other than certain local bills and ceremonial resolutions, and provides for public access on the Internet to those recorded votes.
PROPOSITION 12 provides for the issuance of up to $5 billion in general obligation bonds by the Texas Transportation Commission for highway improvement projects.
PROPOSITION 13 authorizes the denial of bail to someone who violates certain court orders or conditions of release in a felony or family violence case.
PROPOSITION 14 permits a justice or judge who reaches the mandatory retirement age while in office to serve the remainder of his or her current term.
PROPOSITION 15 requires the creation of the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas and authorizes issuance of up to $3 billion in bonds for research in Texas to find the causes of and cures for cancer.
PROPOSITION 16 provides for issuance of additional general obligation bonds by the Texas Water Development Board up to $250 million to provide assistance to economically distressed areas.
