Early voting is underway for the Nov. 2 election, in which Erath voters will decide on eight constitutional amendments and a special local option liquor election (allowing the sale of alcohol and unifying the rules for sale throughout Erath County).
The special local election was added to the Nov. 2 ballot after organizers gathered the signatures of more than 4,400 voters. The effort was organized through Texas Petition Strategies and championed by local business owners to create one set of rules regarding alcohol sales for Erath County, removing the private club requirement on restaurants expanding current sales to include fine wine and package stores.
Amendments up for decision include:
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.”
Early voting in these elections are being held at the Erath County Courthouse in Stephenville (100 W. Washington) with the following hours: Monday through Friday, Oct, 18 through Oct. 22, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday Oct. 24, Noon to 4 p.m.; Monday through Friday, Oct. 25 through Oct. 29, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Polls will be open on Nov. 2 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Courthouse, the Dublin County Annex (219 S. Grafton), Texas Banks (938 Wolfe Nursery Rd. in Stephenville) and Texas Agrilife (1229 N. UH Hwy 281 in Stephenville).