Deadline to register to vote in November looming

Monday, Oct. 7, is the last day eligible Texans can register to vote in the upcoming uniform election on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

Voter registration applications are available at the Cherokee County Elections Department, 138 W. Fifth St., Rusk; or can be downloaded from the department’s website, co.cherokee.tx.us or votetexas.gov.

“Cherokee County residents can come by our office and get a voter registration application,” Cherokee County Elections Department Deputy Voter Clerk Becky Slack said. “Or they can download one and get it in the mail to us by Oct. 7. We encourage everyone to get registered and get their votes in – it’s such an important privilege to citizens.

To be eligible to register to vote, residents must be:

- a United States citizen;

- a resident of the county where the voter registration application is submitted;

- at least 17 years and 10 months old, and/or 18 years of age on Election Day.

Convicted felons and citizens that have been officially declared totally or partially mentally incapacitated without the right to vote are not eligible.

Early voting begins Monday, Oct. 21, and ends Friday, Nov. 1.

This election is especially important for some Cherokee County residents, as they’ll have local issues on the ballot, as well as the 10 proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution.

“The future of Texas is and will always be in the hands of Texans,” Deputy Secretary of State Joe Esparza said in a statement published on the Secretary of State’s website. “This fall, voters will have the opportunity to directly impact the Texas Constitution, and I strongly encourage all eligible Texans to register to vote so that they can actively participate in shaping the future of the Lone Star State.”

Rusk and Alto residents will also get the chance to vote on local issues on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

Rusk’s ballot will include the 36 proposed city charter amendments.

Alto Independent School District residents will get the chance to cast votes in the ISD’s bond issue.

According to the Texas Secretary of State Ruth R. Hughs’ website, “The uniform election date in November of odd-numbered years is usually the date on which constitutional amendments passed by the Texas Legislature during its recently completed session are voted on. Many local political subdivisions, such as cities and school districts, also have their regular general elections for members of their governing bodies or special elections to fill vacancies on this date. Political subdivisions, including counties, may also have measure (proposition) elections on this date.

Texans will have the opportunity to approve the following amendments with a majority vote:

Proposition 1 (HJR 72)

“The constitutional amendment permitting a person to hold more than one office as a municipal judge at the same time.”

Proposition 2 (SJR 79)

“The constitutional amendment providing for the issuance of additional general obligation bonds by the Texas Water Development Board in an amount not to exceed $200 million to provide financial assistance for the development of certain projects in economically distressed areas.”

Proposition 3 (HJR 34)

“The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide for a temporary exemption from ad valorem taxation of a portion of the appraised value of certain property damaged by a disaster.”

Proposition 4 (HJR 38)

“The constitutional amendment prohibiting the imposition of an individual income tax, including a tax on an individual’s share of partnership and unincorporated association income.”

Proposition 5 (SJR 24)

“The constitutional amendment dedicating the revenue received from the existing state sales and use taxes that are imposed on sporting goods to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Historical Commission to protect Texas’ natural areas, water quality, and history by acquiring, managing, and improving state and local parks and historic sites while not increasing the rate of the state sales and use taxes.”

Proposition 6 (HJR 12)

“The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to increase by $3 billion the maximum bond amount authorized for the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas.”

Proposition 7 (HJR 151)

“The constitutional amendment allowing increased distributions to the available school fund.”

Proposition 8 (HJR 4)

“The constitutional amendment providing for the creation of the flood infrastructure fund to assist in the financing of drainage, flood mitigation, and flood control projects.”

Proposition 9 (HJR 95)

“The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to exempt from ad valorem taxation precious metal held in a precious metal depository located in this state.”

Proposition 10 (SJR 32)

“The constitutional amendment to allow the transfer of a law enforcement animal to a qualified caretaker in certain circumstances.”

For more information and resources for voting in Texas, visit VoteTexas.gov.