Early voting begins today, Monday, Oct. 23

By Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

The Highlander

Burnet County and Llano County residents began going to the polls this week as early voting started for the Nov. 7 general election.

Voters in two municipalities — Horseshoe Bay and Granite Shoals — have municipal elections called in addition to the seven constitutional amendments that will be voted on statewide.

Horseshoe Bay Mayor Steve Jordan will run unopposed for re-election to his position, but three candidates filed to run for two available at-large council seats, including incumbents Dr. Cynthia Clinesmith and Reagan Lambert, as well as Dennis R. Hoover.

Voters in Horseshoe Bay will also determine whether the city will reauthorize a local sales and use tax of one-fourth of a penny to fund maintenance and repair of municipal streets and sidewalks, which is allowed under Chapter 327 of the Texas Tax Code.

Granite Shoals voters have been asked to return to the polls to confirm their approval of $3 million in tax bonds for inprovements to Phillips Ranch Road, Prairie Creek Road and Valley View Lane. The bonds were previously approved by voters on Nov. 8, 2016

Early voting began in Burnet County at 8 a.m. Monday, Oct. 23, and continues from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each weekday through Friday, Nov. 3, except for Thursday, Oct. 26, and Thursday, Nov. 2, when polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Registered voters may cast their ballots during early voting at either the Burnet County Courthouse, 220 S. Pierce St., Burnet, or the Marble Falls Courthouse Annex, 810 Steve Hawkins Pkwy., Marble Falls.

The general election will be held from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 7, in Burnet County with five voting precincts open. Voters will go to the polls as follows:

* Voting Precincts 1, 2, 5, 7, 8, 11 and 17 will vote on constitutional amendments at the Burnet County Courthouse.

* Voting Precinct 9 will vote on constitutional amendments at the Highland Haven Community Center, 118 Blackbird Drive, Highland Haven.

* Voting Precincts 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 will vote on constitutional amendments at the Bertram Library, 170 N. Gabriel, Bertram.

* Voting Precincts 3 and 18 will vote on both constitutional amendments as well as the City of Granite Shoals' bond election at the Granite Shoals Fire Station, 8410 RM 1431 West, Granite Shoals.

* Voting Precincts 4, 6, 19 and 20 will vote on constitutional amendments at the Marble Falls Courthouse Annex and those living in Horseshoe Bay will also vote in that city's municipal election.

Early voting in Llano County will be held at the Llano County Library, 102 E. Haynie, Llano, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, Oct. 23 through Nov. 3, with extended hours of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 23 and Oct. 30.

Early voting will also be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, Oct. 23-Nov. 3 at the Kingsland Public Library, 125 W. Polk, Kingsland, and from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on the same dates at the Horseshoe Bay Property Owners Association, 107 Twilight, Horseshoe Bay.

Election Day polling in Horseshoe Bay for Llano County residents will take place Tuesday, Nov. 7, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Horseshoe Bay Council Chambers at City Hall, 1 Community Drive.

The Texas Secretary of State's office reminds voters that, if they possess one of the seven approved forms of photo ID, they must use that ID to vote. The seven forms of approved photo ID are:

• 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 license to carry a handgun 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

An approved photo ID may be expired up to four years.

For those registered voters who do not possess and cannot reasonably obtain one of the seven forms of approved photo ID MAY VOTE by (1) signing a declaration at the polling site explaining why they are reasonably unable to obtain one of the seven forms of approved photo ID, and (2) providing one of various forms of supporting documentation.
This supporting documentation can be:

*a certified birth certificate (must be an original);

*a valid voter registration certificate; or

*a copy or original of one of the following: current utility bill; bank statement; government check; paycheck or other government document that shows the voter’s name and an address

Government documents which include a photo must be original and cannot be copies. If a voter meets these requirements and is otherwise eligible to vote, the voter will be able to cast a regular ballot in the election.

The following Propositions are on the statewide ballot for Nov. 7:

* Proposition 1 (HJR 21): "The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide for an exemption from ad valorem taxation of part of the market value of the residence homestead of a partially disabled veteran or the surviving spouse of a partially disabled veteran if the residence homestead was donated to the disabled veteran by a charitable organization for less than the market value of the residence homestead and harmonizing certain related provisions of the Texas Constitution."

* Proposition 2 (SJR 60): "The constitutional amendment to establish a lower amount for expenses that can be charged to a borrower and removing certain financing expense limitations for a home equity loan, establishing certain authorized lenders to make a home equity loan, changing certain options for the refinancing of home equity loans, changing the threshold for an advance of a home equity line of credit, and allowing home equity loans on agricultural homesteads."

* Proposition 3 (SJR 34): "The constitutional amendment limiting the service of certain officeholders appointed by the governor and confirmed by the senate after the expiration of the person's term of office."

* Proposition 4 (SJR 6): "The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to require a court to provide notice to the attorney general of a challenge to the constitutionality of a state statute and authorizing the legislature to prescribe a waiting period before the court may enter a judgment holding the statute unconstitutional."

* Proposition 5 (HJR 100): "The constitutional amendment on professional sports team charitable foundations conducting charitable raffles."

* Proposition 6 (SJR 1): "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 first responder who is killed or fatally injured in the line of duty."

* Proposition 7 (HJR 37): "The constitutional amendment relating to legislative authority to permit credit unions and other financial institutions to award prizes by lot to promote savings."