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Voters have opportunity to cast ballot in statewide constitutional amendments
It’s almost that time again. On Nov. 4, registered voters will once again have the opportunity to participate in our democracy by exercising their right to vote. There will be 17 statewide constitutional amendments on the upcoming ballot. These changes to the Texas Constitution will impact our laws and our daily lives, so we all need to research and be prepared before going to the polls.
The League of Women Voters’ Voters Guides are now available, providing non-partisan information regarding the pros and cons for each proposed amendment to help everyone make an informed decision. There are lots of other sources as well. Just be sure to choose reliable sources.
To provide accurate information for this article, we spoke with Rebecka LaCourse, Colorado County Elections Administrator, who graciously answered questions about the security of elections and recent changes made to the voting process in Texas. These procedures and changes apply statewide.
Are our elections secure?
Yes, our elections are very secure. The elections office, election judges, and clerks all take our elections very seriously. Before Election Day, ballot boxes are verified empty, then double-locked with two separate keys. The second key is held by either the county sheriff or the county judge (whichever is not on the ballot) for safekeeping. Locked ballot boxes are delivered back to the elections office on election night by election judges appointed by both major political parties. No one is ever alone with a ballot box on Election Day. Once counted, ballots are held under double lock for 22 months per state regulations.
Should voters anticipate changes in the voting process?
The only change during the November election is in curbside voting. Curbside voters will now be required to sign a Curbside Voter Statement prior to receiving their ballot.
Important upcoming change: Texas SB 2753 was enacted during the 2025 Texas legislative session. Under this bill, by August 2027, there will be no difference between early voting and Election Day voting. Instead, there will be an Election Period that starts 12 days before Election Day, with designated polling locations open each day until polls close on Election Day. This new schedule will actually increase the availability of weekend voting from one weekend to two per Election Period and will also extend Sunday voting hours. Since there will no longer be a gap between early voting and Election Day voting, early votes will not be counted until polls close on Election Day. For those of us used to getting the first election results quickly, we will have to wait a bit longer.
Reminders for voters: Remember to bring one of the seven acceptable forms of identification with you to the polls. No political attire, signs, or other items with pol itical content are permitted at polling sites – even if they pertain to past elections. Cell phones should be turned off or silenced, and there should be no talking or texting while voting. And of course, no firearms are allowed.
Be sure to confirm your polling location before Election Day, especially if you haven’t voted on Election Day in recent years. Your precinct is listed on your voter registration card, or you can contact your county elections office or visit VOTE411.org, the League’s online Voters Guide, to verify your voter registration status and polling place.
Early voting for the upcoming November election begins Monday, Oct. 20, and ends Friday, Oct. 31. Applications for mail ballots must be received by the election office by Oct. 24.
Your county elections office is here to serve the public, and its staff is available to assist with the election process and address any questions or concerns you may have. If you would like to get involved and assist with the election process, please contact your county election office. Rebecka LaCourse, Colorado County’s Elections Administrator, can be reached at (979) 7326860. Happy voting, everyone!
