Voter Guide 2023 | Everything you need to know before making your voice heard on several state constitutional amendments

The deadline to register to vote for the Nov. 7 election has passed. If you don't know whether or not you're registered to vote, you can check here.

We have a full rundown of the steps needed to register to vote here.

Check to see whether you're already a Texas voter.

Get more answers from the state's website.

Here are the dates you'll need to know in order to navigate the election process in Texas:

• Tuesday, Oct. 10: Last day to register to vote
• Monday, Oct. 23: Early voting begins
• Friday, Oct. 27: Last day to apply to vote by mail. 
• Friday, Nov. 3: Early voting closes
• Tuesday, Nov. 7: Election Day

On Election Day

The polls in Bexar County will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for the election on Tuesday, Nov. 7. Those who are in line when polls close will have a chance to fill out and cast their ballot. 

A complete list of voting locations can be found here. A sample ballot can be found here. 

Remember: Just because you're registered doesn't mean you won't need to be ready at the polls. Make sure to have at least one of the following types of ID: 

• Texas driver's license
• Texas election ID certificate
• Personal Texas ID card
• Texas handgun license
• U.S. citizenship certificate with photo
• U.S. military ID
• U.S. passport (book or card)

For those who don't have and can't reasonably obtain one of those kinds of identification ahead of Election Day, click here to find out your options. 

Early voting

Early voting in Bexar County was open on most days between Oct. 23 and Nov. 3, allowing community members the opportunity to cast their ballots ahead of the runoff election. Polling hours also depended on the day:

• Monday, Oct. 23 to Friday, Oct. 27: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Saturday, Oct. 28: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Sunday, Oct. 29: Noon to 6 p.m.
• Monday, Oct. 30 to Wednesday, Nov. 1: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. 
• Thursday, Nov. 2 to Friday, Nov. 3: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Voters needed to bring one of the forms of ID listed in the section above. Find a list of early voting locations in Bexar County here. 

Mail-in voting

Texans have the ability to vote by mail but must meet at least one of the following criteria:

• If you're 65 years of age or older on Election Day. 
• If you're sick or disabled (here that means having a sickness or physical condition preventing you from appearing at the polls on Election Day without a likelihood of needing personal assistance or of injuring your health). 
• If you're going to be out of the county on Election Day or during the early-voting period. 
• If you're expected to give birth within three weeks before or after Election Day. 
• If you're confined in jail, but are eligible to vote. 

Those eligible must fill out this absentee-ballot application and submit it to the Bexar County Elections Office to be able to submit a mail-in ballot for the election. 

Voter ID

You don't want to get to a polling location and not be ready. There are certain types of ID you need to show before you cast your ballot.

Here's a list that shows you all of the acceptable ID forms.

Is my voter registration information public?

Voter privacy rules vary by state. In Texas, if you are registered to vote, your name, address, precinct you live in and registration number is public record. But your birthday or social security number is kept confidential. The Texas secretary of state allows certain individuals to keep their information confidential, including law enforcement, judges and some crime victims.

Earlier this year, San Antonio voters voted to keep Mayor Ron Nirenberg in office, while also making selections for a few City Council races. None of those are on the Nov. 7 ballot. 

Instead, Bexar County voters will primarily be asked whether they're for or against 14 constitutional amendments sent to the ballot by Texas lawmakers. Many of them would create or alter funds to support things like higher education research, broadband infrastructure and water infrastructure, according to the Texas Tribune. 

Click here to see the sample ballot and here to read up on the proposed amendments before heading to the polls. Below, you can see exactly how they will be worded on the ballot. 

Proposition 1

"The constitutional amendment protecting the right to engage in farming, ranching, timber production, horticulture, and wildlife management."

Proposition 2

"The constitutional amendment authorizing a local option exemption from ad valorem taxation by a county or municipality of all or part of the appraised value of real property used to operate a child-care facility."

Proposition 3

"The constitutional amendment prohibiting the imposition of an individual wealth or net worth tax, including a tax on the difference between the assets and liabilities of an individual or family."

Proposition 4

"The constitutional amendment to authorize the legislature to establish a temporary limit on the maximum appraised value of real property other than a residence homestead for ad valorem tax purposes; to increase the amount of the exemption from ad valorem taxation by a school district applicable to residence homesteads from $40,000 to $100,000; to adjust the amount of the limitation on school district ad valorem taxes imposed on the residence homesteads of the elderly or disabled to reflect increases in certain exemption amounts; to except certain appropriations to pay for ad valorem tax relief from the constitutional limitation on the rate of growth of appropriations; and to authorize the legislature to provide for a four-year term of office for a member of the board of directors of certain appraisal districts."

Proposition 5

"The constitutional amendment relating to the Texas University Fund, which provides funding to certain institutions of higher education to achieve national prominence as major research universities and drive the state economy."

Proposition 6

"The constitutional amendment creating the Texas water fund to assist in financing water projects in this state."

Proposition 7

"The constitutional amendment providing for the creation of the Texas energy fund to support the construction, maintenance, modernization, and operation of electric generating facilities."

Proposition 8

"The constitutional amendment creating the broadband infrastructure fund to expand high-speed broadband access and assist in the financing of connectivity projects."

Proposition 9

"The constitutional amendment authorizing the 88th Legislature to provide a cost-of-living adjustment to certain annuitants of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas."

Proposition 10

"The constitutional amendment to authorize the legislature to exempt from ad valorem taxation equipment or inventory held by a manufacturer of medical or biomedical products to protect the Texas healthcare network and strengthen our medical supply chain."

Proposition 11

"The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to permit conservation and reclamation districts in El Paso County to issue bonds supported by ad valorem taxes to fund the development and maintenance of parks and recreational facilities."

Proposition 12

"The constitutional amendment providing for the abolition of the office of county treasurer in Galveston County."

Proposition 13

"The constitutional amendment to increase the mandatory age of retirement for state justices and judges."

Proposition 14

"The constitutional amendment providing for the creation of the centennial parks conservation fund to be used for the creation and improvement of state parks."

KENS5.com will have live updates of all results in the Bexar County and Texas elections. All results will be posted at KENS5.com/elections.

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