At FTWtoday, we aim to cover local elections in a way that educates and activates our community with unbiased information to encourage individual voter participation. (I.e. vote for whoever + whatever you want to, just make sure to vote.) To learn more, check out our Editorial Ethics Policy.
Tomorrow is the big day — aka Election Day — and we’ve done the Googling so you don’t have to. To make this election as easy as possible, we’ve curated need-to-know information about how and where to vote, along with what issues we’re voting on. 👇
Are you registered?
First things first, make sure you’re eligible + registered to vote.
Find your polling location
Tarrant County polling places will be open on Tues., Nov. 2 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. If you’re unsure where to go, you can request voter information that provides your registration status + polling location.
What are we voting on?
There are no state elected seats on the ballot this November. In Tarrant County, you’ll be voting on school district propositions, infrastructure + public safety bonds.
Voting absentee? The deadline to request a mail-in ballot was Sat., Oct. 23 + completed ballots must be sent in by Tues., Nov. 2 to be counted.
Looking for COVID-19 safety information? Find coronavirus updates from the Tarrant County Election Commission here.
School District Elections
Fort Worth ISD is asking voters to approve a historic $1.49 billion bond package aimed at making improvements to existing schools and facilities + to fund new construction. All of these bonds would be funded by property tax increases.
Proposition A would provide more than $1.2 billion for the construction and renovation of school buildings in the district.
Proposition B would allocate $98.3 million for the district’s middle school and high school fine arts facilities.
Proposition C would provide $105 million to build three 5,000-seat sports complexes.
Proposition D would allocate $76.2 million to enhance and renovate district athletic facilities.
The district has a school-by-school breakdown of upgrades and improvements, along with a total cost per campus.
County Elections
Tarrant County Proposition A: $400 million in bonds to improve traffic flow and reduce traffic congestion throughout the city. If approved, it would not result in a property tax increase.
Tarrant County Proposition B: $116 million to build and equip new offices for the district’s attorney’s office. If approved, it would result in a property tax increase.
State Constitutional Amendments
Proposition 1: Gambling
Would allow charitable raffles at rodeo events. The amendment would extend that permission to rodeo events by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association or the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association.
Proposition 2: Bond Issues
Would authorize counties to issue bonds or notes to raise funds for transportation infrastructure in underdeveloped areas. The funds cannot be used for construction, maintenance, or acquisition of toll roads.
Proposition 3: Religion
Would ban the state from prohibiting or limiting religious services, including those in churches and other places of worship.
Proposition 4: State Judiciary
Would require candidates to have 10 years of experience practicing law in Texas to be eligible for election to the Texas Supreme Court, the Court of Criminal Appeals, or a Texas court of appeals.
Proposition 5: State Judiciary
Would allow the State Commission on Judicial Conduct to have oversight of candidates running for judicial seats by accepting complaints or reports, conducting investigations, and reprimanding them.
Proposition 6: Healthcare
Would allow residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities to designate one essential caregiver who cannot be denied in-person visitation rights.
Proposition 7: Taxes
Would put a limit on school district property taxes incurred by the surviving spouse of a person with disabilities older than 65 who has died.
Proposition 8: Taxes + Veterans
Would expand eligibility for residential homestead tax exemption to include spouses of military members killed or fatally injured in the line of duty.
