Old voter booths at the HUB, the main polling location in Smith County, located at 302 E. Ferguson.

Voter turnout for constitutional amendment elections is typically low, but as early voting begins Monday, officials are reminding residents their votes make an impact.

Even though presidential elections always have higher turnouts, elections like the Nov. 7 Constitutional Amendment and Joint Election still matter, said Michelle Allcon, Smith County Elections Administrator.

“This changes laws that affect them,” Allcon said. “If they don’t come out and say no, they don’t, or yes, they do, then how are our representatives supposed to know that we’re in favor of or against something?”

More than 92,000 people voted in person during the 2020 presidential election. In contrast, only 10,600 ballots were cast during the November 2021 constitutional amendment election, Allcon said.

The minute percentage who vote are making decisions that impact all residents, Allcon said.

There are 14 statewide propositions on the ballot and several local elections, including Lindale ISD, Whitehouse ISD, the City of Whitehouse and the City of Overton.

The propositions are constitutional amendments, meaning state legislators are proposing more than a dozen changes to the Texas Constitution. Only people living in particular jurisdictions are eligible to vote in the local elections, but everyone countywide can vote on state propositions.

MORE COVERAGE: A breakdown of all the propositions on the ballot and what they mean

“In most cases, the ballots have candidates, you have a specific office, and candidates running for that office. A proposition is a statement that you agree or disagree with,” Allcon said. “These are the items that our state senators and representatives decided to send to the public for our say-so.”

People who move to Smith County from a different county and have yet to change their voter registration location are still eligible to vote with a limited ballot during early voting at the main polling place, the HUB in downtown Tyler. These people may not vote on a limited ballot on Election Day.

“You actually can still vote over all the races that are the same between your old county of residence and your new, which for this election is all 14 propositions,” Allcon said.

What’s on the ballot

Local

Lindale ISD: Citizens can vote for or against Proposition A, ratifying the tax rate of $0.9542 per $100 valuation. This rate will result in an increase of negative 6.867% in maintenance and operations tax revenue for the district for the current year as compared to the preceding year, which is an additional negative $1,365,897.

What it means:

If the Lindale community approves the adopted tax rate, LISD will cut taxes an additional 21.54 cents, for 43.58 cents over the last five years.

If the adopted rate is approved, the six cents will generate an additional $1,400,000 in revenue that the school district will use to improve the LISD teacher pay scale and pay for LISD support staff.

The school board reduced the taxes for all property owners in Lindale because of the strong economic growth throughout the community. This past year, the school district experienced a 23% growth in property values.

Whitehouse ISD: Citizens have the opportunity to vote for or against Proposition A, ratifying the tax rate of $0.9272 per $100 valuation, a rate that will result in a decrease of 10.3690% in maintenance and operations tax revenue for the district for the current year as compared to the preceding year, which is a reduction of $2,502,152.

What it means: Proposition A would provide additional maintenance and operating funding and maximize State funding. If passed, Whitehouse ISD would realize $1.6 million more annually through maintenance and operating funds.

The additional $1.6 million per year would be used to support the WISD Strategic Plan, which includes academic support, employee pay raises, safety and security and capital improvements.

City of Whitehouse: Citizens can vote for or against Proposition A, a sales tax reallocation in the City of Whitehouse, increasing the local sales and use tax. There are also elections for City Council positions.

What it means: Proposition A would change how taxes are reported to the state and how existing tax dollars are spent in the City of Whitehouse, according to a statement from the city. If it passes, Whitehouse will offer greater transparency on the amount of property taxes collected, direct more existing funds to economic development, and reduce the impact of government regulations coming out of Austin.

It would also direct more existing funds to economic development, allowing the City to gain more freedom to invest in projects that will improve the community. This could mean attracting new businesses, improving public services and creating job opportunities.

Proposition A will not increase the tax rate, and City leaders remain committed to decreasing the property tax rate.

Candidates for City Council Place 1 Zack Briscoe, Place 3 John Chambers, and Place 5 Matt Lazarine are running uncontested.

City of Overton: Citizens can vote for either Richard “Bubba” Howell or Curtis Gilbert for a two-year term as Mayor. City Council candidates for two-year terms in Place 2 Christopher Hall and Place 4 Raymond Moon are uncontested. A candidate for a one-year term on City Council Place 3 April Littlefield is running uncontested.

What it means: The City of Overton will elect one mayoral and three council seats.

Key dates

Oct. 23 — First Day of Early Voting by Personal Appearance

Oct. 27 — Last Day to Submit an Application for a Ballot by Mail (received, not postmarked)

Nov. 3 — Last Day of Early Voting by Personal Appearance

Nov. 7 — Last Day to Receive Ballot by Mail

Voting locations, times

Early Voting

Dates and Hours

8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, October 23 through 27

9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28

Extended Hours: from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 29 at The HUB

8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, Oct. 30 to Nov. 1

7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday through Friday, Nov. 2 to 3.

Locations

Heritage Building: 1900 Bellwood Road, Tyler, TX 75701

The HUB: 304 E. Ferguson Street, Tyler, TX 75702

Lindale Masonic Lodge: 200 W. Margaret Street, Lindale, TX 7577

Noonday Community Center: 16662 CR 196, Tyler, TX 75703

Whitehouse Methodist Church: 405 W. Main Street, Whitehouse, TX 75791

Election Day

Polling places will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Nov. 7 at the following locations:

Arp First Baptist Church: 304 W. Front St., Arp, TX 75750

Bell Elementary: 1409 E. Hankerson St., Tyler, TX 75701

Bethel Bible Church: 17121 Hwy 69 S, Tyler, TX 75703

Bullard Southern Baptist Church: 716 N. Houston St., Bullard, TX 75757

Cameron J Jarvis Library: 102 S. Georgia St., Troup, TX 75789

Central Baptist Church: 1343 E Grande Blvd, Tyler, TX 75703

Chapel Hill Fire Department: 13801 CR 220, Tyler, TX 75707

Clarkston Elementary: 2915 Williamsburg Dr., Tyler, TX 75701

Crossbrand Cowboy Church: 11915 FM 2015, Tyler, TX 75708

Dover Baptist Church: 21166 FM 1995, Tyler, TX 75704

First Baptist Gresham: 16844 CR 165, Tyler, TX 75703

First Christian Church: Christian Life Center: 4202 S Broadway Ave, Tyler, TX 75701

Flint Baptist Church: 11131 FM 2868 W, Flint, TX 75762

Glass Recreation Center: 501 W. 32nd St., Tyler, TX 75702

Heritage Building: 1900 Bellwood Rd., Tyler, TX 75701

Hideaway Members Svcs Building: 101 Hide-A-Way Ln, Hideaway, TX 75771

Hill Creek Baptist Church: 14749 Hwy 110 S, Whitehouse, TX 75791

Main Location: The HUB, 304 E. Ferguson St., Tyler, TX 75702

Jones-Boshears Elementary: 3450 Chandler Hwy, Tyler, TX 75702

Lanes Chapel UMC: Family Center: 8720 Old Jacksonville Hwy, Tyler, TX 75703

Lindale Masonic Lodge: 200 W. Margaret St., Lindale, TX 75771

Mt. Carmel Baptist Church: 10519 FM 344 E, Whitehouse, TX 75791

New Harmony Baptist Church: 10251 FM 724, Tyler, TX 75704

Noonday Community Center: 16662 CR 196, Tyler, TX 75703

Old Tyler Airport: 150 Airport Dr., Tyler, TX 75704

Red Springs Fire Department: 16759 FM 14, Tyler, TX 75706

Shiloh Road Church of Christ: 1801 Shiloh Rd., Tyler, TX 75703

St. Louis Baptist Church: 4000 Frankston Hwy., Tyler, TX 75701

St. Violet Baptist Church: 14129 FM 2767, Tyler, TX 75708

Starrville Church of the Living God: 18396 Hwy 271, Winona, TX 75792

T J Austin Elementary: 1105 W. Franklin St., Tyler, TX 75702

Three Lakes Middle: 2445 Three Lakes Pkwy., Tyler, TX 75703

Tyler Senior Center: 1915 Garden Valley Rd., Tyler, TX 75702

Victor Kay Gymnasium: 605 Wildcat Dr., Winona, TX 75792

Whitehouse UMC: 405 W. Main St., Whitehouse, TX 75791