Eleanor Finch
Voters in San Antonio, Texas, have a big say in how their local government is run. The city's charter can only be amended every two years through a public vote. In 2024, San Antonians will vote on six amendments, including one to strengthen the Ethics Review Board and another to extend City Council terms to four years. In 2023, Bexar County voters weighed in on 14 proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution, including measures affecting property taxes, state parks funding, and pension raises for retired teachers. Bexar County voters could cast their ballots at any of the 250-plus voting centers, including schools, libraries, churches, and community centers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | November 7, 2023 |
| Location | Bexar County, San Antonio, Texas |
| Voting Centers | 255 |
| Polling Locations | Schools, libraries, churches, city halls, community centers |
| Voting Hours | 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. |
| Ballot Propositions | 14 |
| Topics | Property taxes, money for state parks, pension raises for retired teachers, local government pay, board of directors for the San Antonio River Authority |
| Voter Registration Deadline | October 10, 2023 |
| ID Requirements | Texas or US photo identification, Texas driver's license, Texas Election Identification Certificate, Texas personal identification card, Texas handgun license, US military ID card, US citizenship certificate, US passport |
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What You'll Learn
Voting centres in Bexar County
Bexar County voters had 255 election sites to choose from on Tuesday, November 7, 2023, during the state constitutional amendment election. Polling locations included schools, libraries, churches, city halls, and community centers, which were open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The Bexar County Elections Department operated 255 voting centers throughout San Antonio, and registered voters could cast a ballot at any location. To vote, individuals needed to be registered by the deadline of October 10. Voters could check their registration status and find their polling place using their Voter Unique Identifier (VUID) or Texas driver's license number, name, county, and date of birth.
Acceptable forms of ID included a Texas driver's license, a Texas Election Identification Certificate, a Texas personal identification card, a Texas handgun license, a U.S. military ID card with a photo, a U.S. citizenship certificate with a photo, or a U.S. passport. Voters without these forms of ID could fill out a Reasonable Impediment Declaration at their voting place and provide supporting documentation, such as a government document with their name and address.
In addition to the constitutional amendment election, the San Antonio River Authority held nonpartisan elections for two at-large members of its 12-person board. Voters in Bexar County selected two new members from five candidates.
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Polling locations
To vote, you must be registered. For the 2023 election, the registration deadline was October 10. To check your registration status, you need your Voter Unique Identifier (VUID) or Texas driver's license number, along with your name, county, and date of birth. It is important to ensure that your voter information is up to date, especially if you have recently changed your address or name.
On Election Day, voters are required to present an acceptable form of identification. This includes a Texas driver's license, a Texas Election Identification Certificate, a Texas personal identification card, or a Texas handgun license, all issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS). Other acceptable forms of ID are a U.S. military ID card with a photo, a U.S. citizenship certificate with a photo, or a U.S. passport. If you do not have one of these IDs, you can fill out a Reasonable Impediment Declaration at your polling place and provide a supporting form of identification, such as a government document with your name and address.
In addition to the constitutional amendment election, San Antonio residents also voted on local issues, such as the pay for elected officials and the city manager, and amendments to the City Charter, which outlines how local government operates. The City Council proposed six amendments, appearing on the ballot as propositions A through F. These amendments included extending the term length for City Council members to four years and updating the charter language to use more gender-neutral pronouns.
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Voter registration
To vote on constitutional amendments in San Antonio, you must be registered to vote in Bexar County. To register, you must be a US citizen, a resident of the county where you submit your voter registration application, and meet a few other eligibility requirements. You can check your eligibility and register to vote online. The deadline to register for this election was October 10.
To register, you will need to fill out a voter registration application and mail it at least 30 days before the election date. You can also check your voter registration status online. Make sure your voter information is up to date, and if your address or name has changed, be sure to update your voter information.
To vote in person, you will need to bring one of the acceptable forms of ID. These include a Texas driver's license, a Texas Election Identification Certificate issued by DPS, a Texas personal identification card issued by DPS, a Texas handgun license issued by DPS, a US military ID card with a photo, a US citizenship certificate containing a photo, or a US passport. If you do not have one of these forms of ID and cannot reasonably obtain one, you can fill out a Reasonable Impediment Declaration at your place of voting and show one of the following supporting forms of ID: a copy or original of a government document that shows your name and address, including a voter registration certificate.
Polling locations, which include schools, libraries, churches, city halls, and community centers, will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday. There are more than 250 voting centers around the county.
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Identification requirements
To vote in San Antonio, Texas, you must bring one of the seven acceptable forms of photo ID to the polls. These include:
- A Texas driver's license
- A Texas Election Identification Certificate issued by DPS
- A Texas personal identification card issued by DPS
- A Texas handgun license issued by DPS
- A U.S. military ID card with a photo
- A U.S. citizenship certificate containing a photo
- A U.S. passport
Voters aged 70 or older may present one of the seven acceptable forms of photo ID that is expired but otherwise valid. If you do not have one of these IDs and cannot reasonably obtain one, you may present a supporting form of ID and fill out a Reasonable Impediment Declaration form at the polls. Supporting forms of ID include a government document that shows the voter's name and address, such as a utility bill, bank statement, government check, voter registration certificate, or voter's ballot.
If you have an acceptable form of photo ID but do not bring it to the polling place, you will still be permitted to vote provisionally. You will have six days to present your acceptable form of photo ID to the county voter registrar, or your ballot will be rejected. Alternatively, you may leave the polling place and return before the close of the polls on election day with your acceptable form of photo ID to vote a regular ballot. Voters with a disability may apply for a permanent exemption to presenting an acceptable photo identification.
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Proposed constitutional amendments
On November 7, 2023, Bexar County residents voted on 14 proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution. The proposed amendments covered a range of issues, including:
State of Texas Proposition 1
This proposition aimed to limit regulations on farming, ranching, timber production, horticulture, and wildlife management.
State of Texas Proposition 3
The amendment would prohibit lawmakers from imposing "wealth taxes" without voter approval. Specifically, it would prevent the implementation of new state taxes based on an individual's net worth.
State of Texas Proposition 4
Commonly referred to as the "$18 billion property tax cut," Proposition 4 would temporarily limit appraisal values for non-homestead properties and increase the homestead exemption on school district taxes, resulting in potential savings of around $1,200 for homeowners.
State of Texas Proposition 5
This proposition relates to the Texas University Fund and would provide funding to certain institutions to achieve national recognition as major research universities.
State of Texas Proposition 6
Proposition 6 proposed the creation of the Texas water fund to assist in financing water projects across the state.
State of Texas Proposition 7
This amendment aimed to establish the Texas energy fund, providing financial support for companies to build or upgrade electricity-generating plants.
State of Texas Proposition 8
The goal of Proposition 8 was to expand high-speed internet access to all Texans, helping areas and counties struggling to connect households.
State of Texas Proposition 9
If approved, this proposition would increase the cost-of-living adjustments for retired Texas teachers, resulting in increases ranging from two to six percent depending on their retirement date.
State of Texas Proposition 10
This amendment proposed creating tax exemptions for manufacturers of medical or biomedical products, with the goal of strengthening Texas's medical supply chain.
State of Texas Proposition 11
Proposition 11 would allow conservation and reclamation districts in El Paso County to issue bonds to fund the development and upkeep of parks and recreational facilities.
State of Texas Proposition 12
This proposition called for the abolition of the Galveston County treasurer's office.
In addition to these proposed amendments, Bexar County residents also voted in the San Antonio River Authority election, selecting two new members for their board of directors.
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Frequently asked questions
You can vote at any of the 255 voting centers across San Antonio. Polling locations include schools, libraries, churches, city halls, and community centers.
You must be a registered voter with valid identification. Valid forms of ID include a Texas driver’s license, a Texas Election Identification Certificate, a Texas handgun license, a U.S. military ID card with a photo, a U.S. citizenship certificate with a photo, or a U.S. passport. If you do not have any of these forms of ID, you can fill out a Reasonable Impediment Declaration at your place of voting and show a copy of a government document that includes your name and address.
San Antonio voters will decide on six amendments to the City Charter, which dictates how local government operates. These amendments will appear on the ballot as propositions A through F. One of the amendments includes extending City Council terms to four years instead of the current two years.
