Photo by Victoria Hernandez.
Today marks the final day for Texas voters to decide on 17 proposed amendments. If passed, the amendment becomes part of the Texas Constitution.
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. If you are in line when the polls close, you will still be allowed to cast your vote.
Click here to view the sample ballot for Dallas County and here to find an Election Day Vote Center near you.
Proposition 1: Establish Special Funds for State Technical College System Amendment
This amendment would establish the Permanent Technical Institution Infrastructure Fund (Permanent Fund) and the Available Workforce Education Fund (Available Fund) as special funds in the state treasury to support the Texas Technical College System.
Proposition 2: Prohibit Capital Gains Tax on Individuals, Estates, and Trusts Amendment
This amendment would prohibit a tax on the realized or unrealized capital gains of an individual, family, estate, or trust. Examples include real estate, investments or certain personal property.
Proposition 3: Denial of Bail for Certain Violent or Sexual Offenses Punishable as a Felony Amendment
This amendment would require judges to block bail to individuals accused of certain violent or sexual offenses punishable as a felony, such as murder, aggravated assault and indecency with a child.
Proposition 4: Allocate Portion of Sales Tax Revenue to Water Fund Amendment
This amendment would allocate a portion of the revenue from state sales and use taxes to the Texas water fund to help the state address the increased demand for water.
Proposition 5: Property Tax Exemption on Retail Animal Feed Amendment
This amendment would establish a property tax exemption on animal feed held by the owner of the property for retail sale.
Proposition 6: Prohibit Taxes on Certain Securities Transactions Amendment
This amendment would prohibit the enactment of laws that add taxes on entities such as stock trading and on those that operate or work in the securities market such as financial institutions, brokers and dealers.
Proposition 7: Establish Homestead Exemption for Surviving Spouses of Veterans Killed by a Service-Connected Disease Amendment
This amendment would allow state lawmakers to give property tax breaks on homes to the un-remarried spouses of U.S. veterans that died because of their service.
Proposition 8: Prohibit Estate Taxes and New Taxes on Estate Transfers, Inheritances, and Gifts Amendment
This amendment would prevent lawmakers from imposing a tax on an estate or when an estate or inheritance is transferred.
Proposition 9: Authorize Tax Exemption for Tangible Property Used for Income Production Amendment
This amendment would authorize the legislature to exempt from ad valorem taxation a portion of the market value of tangible property used for income production from taxes.
Proposition 10: Homestead Exemption for Improvements Made to Residence Destroyed by Fire Amendment
This amendment would provide a temporary homestead exemption for improvements made to residences destroyed by fire.
Proposition 11: Increase Homestead Tax Exemption for Elderly and Disabled Amendment
This amendment would allow the state to raise a homestead exemption to lower how much a home’s value can be taxed to pay for public schools, specifically for elderly or disabled Texans.
Proposition 12: Change Membership and Authority of State Commission on Judicial Conduct Amendment
This amendment would change the current State Commission on Judicial Conduct to increase citizen representation on the commission to include the following: six judges or justices of courts appointed by the Texas Supreme Court with two of whom would have to be trial court judges and seven citizens 35 years or older appointed by the governor.
Proposition 13: Increase Homestead Property Tax Exemption Amendment
This amendment would allow Texas homeowners to have an increase in their property tax exemption from $100,000 to $140,000 for the market value of the homestead.
Proposition 14: Establish Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas Amendment
This amendment would establish the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas with $3 billion from the general fund.
Proposition 15: Parental Rights Amendment
This amendment would increase the access parents have as “primary decision-makers” for their children’s education, healthcare and upbringing granting parents stronger legal rights if they challenge schools, medical providers and government programs.
Proposition 16: Citizenship Voting Requirement Amendment
This amendment would add that “persons who are not citizens of the United States” cannot vote to the Texas Constitution.
Proposition 17: Property Tax Exemption for Border Security Infrastructure Amendment
This amendment would authorize the state legislature to provide property tax exemptions for the construction of border infrastructure in a county that borders Mexico.
