AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- Early voting gets underway Monday for the upcoming Nov. 2 election, which includes a number of amendments to the Texas Constitution, and a handful of municipal and school district election items.
One the of most prominent items on the ballot in Central Texas is the City of Austin's Proposition A, which would force the city to increase staffing at the Austin Police Department.
City of Austin voters will also consider Proposition B, which would give voter approval to a potential trade for nine acres of parkland on South Lakeshore Boulevard, which sits adjacent to Oracle's headquarters, for 48 or more acres of waterfront land "contiguous to an existing City park." Grow Austin Parks PAC, a pro-Proposition B group, says Oracle has a deal lined up to trade a parcel that fits the requirements.
School bonds will also be on the ballot in several area districts. Leander ISD residents will be asked to vote on approving $772 million in bond packages; Elgin ISD residents will consider $190 million in bonds for new schools and facility upgrades; and Georgetown ISD residents are being asked to consider $380 million for new schools and facility improvements.
Several mayoral and council races are also on the ballot in different municipalities across the area, alongside some charter amendments and other propositions for voters to consider.
In Travis County, 26 vote centers will be available for voters to cast their ballots at through Friday, Oct. 29, with polls open daily from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon until 6 p.m. on Sunday.
Williamson County residents can find information here.
Hays County residents can find information here.
Here's a look at the eight state constitutional amendments on the ballot:
Proposition 1 (HJR 143): “The constitutional amendment authorizing the professional sports team charitable foundations of organizations sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association or the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association to conduct charitable raffles at rodeo venues.”
Proposition 2 (HJR 99): “The constitutional amendment authorizing a county to finance the development or redevelopment of transportation or infrastructure in unproductive, underdeveloped, or blighted areas in the county.”
Proposition 3 (SJR 27): “The constitutional amendment to prohibit this state or a political subdivision of this state from prohibiting or limiting religious services of religious organizations.”
Proposition 4 (SJR 47): “The constitutional amendment changing the eligibility requirements for a justice of the supreme court, a judge of the court of criminal appeals, a justice of a court of appeals, and a district judge.”
Proposition 5 (HJR 165): “The constitutional amendment providing additional powers to the State Commission on Judicial Conduct with respect to candidates for judicial office.”
Proposition 6 (SJR 19): “The constitutional amendment establishing a right for residents of certain facilities to designate an essential caregiver for in-person visitation.”
Proposition 7 (HJR 125): “The constitutional amendment to allow the surviving spouse of a person who is disabled to receive a limitation on the school district ad valorem taxes on the spouse’s residence homestead if the spouse is 55 years of age or older at the time of the person’s death.”
Proposition 8 (SJR 35): “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 member of the armed services of the United States who is killed or fatally injured in the line of duty.”
You can find sample ballots online for Travis County, Williamson County, and Hays County.