Malcolm Rivera
The Texas Constitution has been amended 507 times between 1876 and 2019, with voters approving 507 and rejecting 180 of the 687 amendments approved by the legislature and placed on the ballot. Texans will have the opportunity to approve proposed amendments with a majority vote. To weigh in on the constitutional amendments, Texas voters need to be registered to vote by the specified deadline. The election is then held in accordance with procedures prescribed by the Legislature, in essentially the same manner as other kinds of elections.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Voting registration deadline | Oct 10 |
| Requirements to register | Texas driver's license number and date of birth, or first and last names, date of birth and county of residence, or date of birth and Voter Unique Identifier |
| Voting options | In-person, by mail, emergency early voting ballot, curbside voting |
| Number of proposed amendments | 17 |
| Examples of proposed amendments | Proposition 1 – HJR 126 "The constitutional amendment protecting the right to engage in farming, ranching, timber production, horticulture, and wildlife management.", Proposition 4 – HJR 2 "The constitutional amendment to authorize the legislature to establish a temporary limit on the maximum appraised value of real property other than a residence homest", SJR 2 "The constitutional amendment increasing the amount of the residence homestead exemption from property taxes for public school purposes from $25,000 to $40,000", SJR 3 "The constitutional amendment providing for the establishment of the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas" |
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What You'll Learn
Voter registration requirements
To vote on constitutional amendments in Texas, you must be registered to vote by the specified deadline. For instance, for the November 7 constitutional amendment election, the last date to register to vote was October 10. You can check your registration status and verify your information through the Texas Secretary of State's website.
To log in and access this information, you will need one of the following combinations:
- Your Texas driver's license number and date of birth
- Your first and last names, date of birth, and county of residence
- Your date of birth and Voter Unique Identifier, which can be found on your voter registration card
Most people will need to fill out and submit a paper application to register to vote. The application must be postmarked by the deadline. You can request a postage-paid application by mail or find one at county voter registrars' offices, post offices, government offices, or high schools.
If you are unable to go to a polling place due to sickness or disability, you may request an emergency early voting ballot or use curbside voting. Contact your county elections office for more information on this process.
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Voting in person or by mail
To vote in person on amendments to the Texas Constitution, Texans must be registered to vote and have their information verified. This can be done through the Texas Secretary of State's website using one of the following combinations:
- Texas driver's license number and date of birth
- First and last names, date of birth, and county of residence
- Date of birth and Voter Unique Identifier, which can be found on your voter registration card
Texans who are already registered to vote can check their registration status and verify their information through the same website.
The registration deadline to vote in Texas constitutional amendment elections, also called ratification elections, is typically before the election date, which usually falls on odd-numbered years after regular sessions of the legislature. For instance, the deadline to register to vote for the Nov. 7 constitutional amendment election was Oct. 10.
If you are unable to vote in person due to sickness or disability, you may request an emergency early voting ballot or use curbside voting. Contact your county elections office for more details.
Alternatively, Texans can vote by mail. To do so, they must first apply for a mail-in ballot.
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Understanding the ballot language
The Texas Secretary of State plays a crucial role in this process. They are responsible for widely publicizing the proposed amendments, including publishing a brief explanatory statement about each amendment, along with the date of the election and the exact wording of the proposition as it will appear on the ballot. This information is disseminated to the public through various channels, ensuring that voters have access to the details of the proposed changes.
The ballot language is designed to be clear and concise, but it may not cover every aspect of the proposed amendment. Voters are presented with ""propositions,"," which are the proposed amendments, and they have the choice to vote for or against each one. The propositions are typically designated with a number and a brief description, such as "Proposition 1 – HJR 126: The constitutional amendment protecting the right to engage in farming, ranching, timber production, horticulture, and wildlife management."
Understanding the specific language and implications of each proposition is essential. For example, Proposition 1, as mentioned earlier, seeks to protect the right to engage in certain agricultural activities. This amendment would raise the bar for state and local regulation of these practices, requiring governments to provide evidence that any regulation is necessary to protect the public from harm. This proposition demonstrates how the ballot language translates into potential policy changes if the amendment is approved by a majority of voters.
Staying informed about the specifics of each proposition is crucial for voters. While the ballot language provides a snapshot of the proposed amendment, further research and engagement with reliable sources can help voters make well-informed decisions. Understanding the potential impact of each amendment on their rights, freedoms, and the overall governance of Texas is essential for a thoughtful and meaningful voting experience.
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The majority vote
The Texas Constitution has been amended 507 times between 1876 and 2019, with voters approving 507 and rejecting 180 of the 687 amendments approved by the legislature and placed on the ballot. This means Texas voters have approved 74% of the proposed amendments.
The process for amending the Texas Constitution is described in Article 17 of the constitution. The first step is similar to the process for amending the United States Constitution, but the second step differs substantially. While amendments to the U.S. Constitution are not submitted directly to voters for approval, amendments to the Texas Constitution are. The U.S. Constitution requires a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate to propose an amendment, while Texas requires a two-thirds majority in both the Texas Senate and the Texas House of Representatives to propose an amendment and place it on the ballot.
The Texas Secretary of State is required to widely publicize proposed amendments ahead of the election. Voters are presented with one or more "propositions" on the ballot—the proposed amendments—and given the choice to vote for or against each one. After the votes are cast, the returning officer in each county submits the returns to the Secretary of State. If a majority of the votes cast were in favor of an amendment, it becomes part of the Texas Constitution, and the governor must issue a proclamation to that effect.
For example, Texans voted on 14 constitutional amendments during the November 7 election. Before the election, Texans had to be registered to vote by October 10.
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The role of the Secretary of State
The Texas Secretary of State plays a crucial role in the process of amending the state's constitution. Firstly, they are responsible for widely publicizing any proposed amendments before an election. This includes publishing a brief explanatory statement about the nature of each amendment, along with the date of the election and the exact wording of the proposition that voters will see on the ballot. This information is crucial in helping voters understand the potential changes and make informed decisions.
The Secretary of State also has a role in determining the ballot order for the proposed amendments. If there is more than one constitutional amendment on the ballot, the Secretary of State conducts a random drawing to decide the order in which they will appear. This process ensures that each amendment receives equal consideration and that the ballot is presented in a neutral manner.
Additionally, the Secretary of State receives the election results from each county's returning officer. After the votes are cast, the returning officer submits the number of legal votes cast for and against each amendment to the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State then plays a part in finalizing the amendment process. If a majority of votes are cast in favor of an amendment, it becomes part of the Texas Constitution, and the governor must issue a proclamation to that effect.
The Secretary of State's website is also an important resource for voters. Texans can check their registration status and verify their information through the website. This ensures that voters have the necessary tools to participate in the democratic process and that their voices are heard regarding the state's governing document.
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Frequently asked questions
To vote on proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution, you must be a registered voter. If you are registered, you will be presented with one or more "propositions" on the ballot—the proposed amendments—and you can vote for or against each one.
Proposed amendments must be approved by at least two-thirds of the members of both the Texas Senate and the Texas House of Representatives. The Texas secretary of state is then required to widely publicize the proposed amendments before the election.
Constitutional amendment elections, also called ratification elections, normally take place in odd-numbered years after regular sessions of the legislature.
