Early voting in local elections and on statewide constitutional amendment proposals will begin Monday, October 20.
Early voting will wrap up Friday, October 31, before the Tuesday, November 4, election date.
Those planning elections locally include Aquilla ISD and Hill County Emergency Services District (ESD) 1. Other local entities normally hold elections in May or did not have contested races this time around.
Voters will see issues pertaining to their address on their ballot, along with the proposed amendments.
Aquilla ISD
Aquilla ISD has three school board seats available. Incumbents Diane Montgomery and Courtney Lewis filed to keep their seats, and Gloria Moss and Brandon Haworth are also looking to fill a position.
ESD 1
Hill County ESD 1 has called an election to ask the public to raise its property tax ceiling from $0.03 to $0.08 and authorize the collection of sales tax in areas where there is still room under the combined 8.25% state and local sales tax cap.
Voter approval of the new property tax ceiling would not result in an immediate tax increase, but it would give the district room to increase funding as the county grows.
For context, ESD 1 taxes would be $60 per year on a $200,000 home at $0.03, and they would be $160 per year at $0.08, although such a tax increase is not currently proposed.
Constitutional
Amendments
Proposition 1 – SJR 59: The constitutional amendment providing for the creation of the permanent technical institution infrastructure fund and the available workforce education fund to support the capital needs of educational programs offered by the Texas State Technical College System.
Proposition 2 – SJR 18: The constitutional amendment prohibiting the imposition of a tax on the realized or unrealized capital gains of an individual, family, estate, or trust.
Proposition 3 – SJR 5: The constitutional amendment requiring the denial of bail under certain circumstances to persons accused of certain offenses punishable as a felony.
Proposition 4 – HJR 7: The constitutional amendment to dedicate a portion of the revenue derived from state sales and use taxes to the Texas water fund and to provide for the allocation and use of that revenue.
Proposition 5 – HJR 99: The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to exempt from ad valorem taxation tangible personal property consisting of animal feed held by the owner of the property for sale at retail.
Proposition 6 – HJR 4: The constitutional amendment prohibiting the legislature from enacting a law imposing an occupation tax on certain entities that enter into transactions conveying securities or imposing a tax on certain securities transactions.
Proposition 7 – HJR 133: 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 veteran who died as a result of a condition or disease that is presumed under federal law to have been service-connected.
Proposition 8 – HJR 2: The constitutional amendment to prohibit the legislature from imposing death taxes applicable to a decedent’s property or the transfer of an estate, inheritance, legacy, succession, or gift.
Proposition 9 – HJR 1: The constitutional amendment to authorize the legislature to exempt from ad valorem taxation a portion of the market value of tangible personal property a person owns that is held or used for the production of income.
Proposition 10 – SJR 84: The constitutional amendment to authorize the legislature to provide for a temporary exemption from ad valorem taxation of the appraised value of an improvement to a residence homestead that is completely destroyed by a fire.
Proposition 11 – SJR 85: The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to increase the amount of the exemption from ad valorem taxation by a school district of the market value of the residence homestead of a person who is elderly or disabled.
Proposition 12 – SJR 27: The constitutional amendment regarding the membership of the State Commission on Judicial Conduct, the membership of the tribunal to review the commission’s recommendations, and the authority of the commission, the tribunal, and the Texas Supreme Court to more effectively sanction judges and justices for judicial misconduct.
Proposition 13 – SJR 2: The constitutional amendment to increase the amount of the exemption of residence homesteads from ad valorem taxation by a school district from $100,000 to $140,000.
Proposition 14 – SJR 3: The constitutional amendment providing for the establishment of the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, establishing the Dementia Prevention and Research Fund to provide money for research on and prevention and treatment of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and related disorders in this state, and transferring to that fund $3 billion from state general revenue.
Proposition 15 – SJR 34: The constitutional amendment affirming that parents are the primary decision makers for their children.
Proposition 16 – SJR 37: The constitutional amendment clarifying that a voter must be a United States citizen.
Proposition 17 – HJR 34: The constitutional amendment to authorize the legislature to provide for an exemption from ad valorem taxation of the amount of the market value of real property located in a county that borders the United Mexican States that arises from the installation or construction on the property of border security infrastructure and related improvements.
Early Voting Locations
Hill County residents can vote at any of three early voting locations: the Hill County Covington Street Annex at 126 South Covington Street in Hillsboro; the Hill County Precinct 1 Annex, located at 5800 FM 933 in Whitney (Huron); and the Hubbard Civic Center, located at 300 North Magnolia in Hubbard. Early voting locations will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays through the early voting period. The main early voting location in Hillsboro will have extended hours Thursday, October 30, and Friday, October 31, when it will be open until 8 p.m.
The main early voting location in Bosque County will be the Elections Administration Office at 104 West Morgan in Meridian. It will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, October 20-24; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, October 25; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, October 27-29; and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, October 30-31. A second early voting location will be open at Valley Mills City Hall with the same hours.
Ballot by Mail
Applications for ballots by mail must be received in the county elections office by Friday, October 24. Texas allows voting by mail for those who: will be 65 years of age or older on Election Day; are sick or disabled; are expecting to give birth within three weeks before or after Election Day; will be absent from the county of registration during the early voting period and on Election Day; are civilly committed under Chapter 841 of the Texas Health and Safety Code; or confined in jail, but otherwise eligible.
For more information, contact the Hill County Elections Administration Office at 254-582-4072 or the Bosque County Elections Administration Office at 254-435-6650.
Voter ID
Voters are reminded that under Texas law, those who possess one of the seven acceptable forms of photo identification must present that ID at the polls when voting in person. They include:
• Texas Driver License issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)
• Texas Election Identification Certificate issued by DPS
• Texas Personal Identification Card issued by DPS
• Texas Handgun License issued by DPS
• United States Military Identification Card containing the person’s photograph
• United States Citizenship Certificate containing the person’s photograph
• United States Passport (book or card)
With the exception of the U.S. Citizenship Certificate, which does not expire, for voters aged 18-69, the acceptable form of photo identification may be expired no more than four years before being presented for voter qualification at the polling place.
For voters aged 70 or older, the acceptable form of photo identification may be expired for any length of time if the identification is otherwise valid.
Voters who do not possess and cannot reasonably obtain one of the seven approved forms of photo ID may fill out a Reasonable Impediment Declaration at the polls and present an alternative form of ID, such as a utility bill, bank statement, government check or a voter registration certificate.
TextMyGov
Hill County also offers the “TextMyGov” service that allows quick access to frequently asked questions about voting. Simply text “Hi” to 254-266-6442 to get started.
The Lakelander 