Hundreds Have Already Voted Early Locally
Early voting for the Nov. 7 election began on Monday, Oct. 23. Fayette County Elections Office reported 287 voters cast early and mail-in ballots as of Wednesday morning, Oct. 25.
Of those, 244 voted in-person during the first two days of early voting. The Elections Office received 43 mail-in ballots during that time. Early voting runs through Nov. 3.
This year’s ballot includes 14 constitutional amendment propositions, including several related to property tax relief and the homestead exemption. Voters will also consider amendments to give retired teachers a cost-ofliving wage, funding for state parks, funding for water and broadband infrastructure and a “right to farm” amendment. Read more about the proposed amendments at https://ballotpedia. org/Texas_2023_ballot_ measures.
Fayette County voters will also decide whether to abolish the office of County Surveyor. The County Surveyor was once an important position during the early days of the County when land had not yet been settled.
According to the Texas State Historical Association, “Duties included surveying land for the county and recording and examining field notes of surveys made in the county.
With the disappearance of open land the importance of the office decreased, and in many counties the office has remained vacant.”
Fayette County has not allocated any funds in the budget for the County Surveyor’s office for the past two years. Abolishing the office requires a vote by the public.
Voters in Fayetteville I.S.D. will consider a Voter-Approval Tax Ratification Election. According to the school district: “This year, Fayetteville ISD and many other school districts are projecting a funding shortage due to legislative inaction during the 88th State Legislative Session and decreased enrollment. For the first time in history, Fayetteville ISD is asking voters to consider approving three cents on its maintenance and operations tax rate to offset the increasing cost of education. If approved on November 7, 2023, Fayetteville ISD voters would still see annual tax savings due to a cut in the interest and sinking rate and simultaneous approval of SB 2, also on the November ballot. SB 2 proposes changing the homestead exemption from $40,000 to $100,000.”
Schulenburg I.S.D voters will consider two bond proposals to fund improvements at the school totaling nearly $19.6 million. Proposition A would provide $12.29 million to build a new performing arts center with an auditorium, stage and audience seating, fine arts classrooms and space for practice, rehearsals and storage for the theater arts and band program. The new center will also include a weight room, athletic offices, and boys and girls dressing rooms. Proposition B would provide $7.3 million for improvements to the football stadium, a new eight-lane track, renovations to the field house, three tennis courts and lighting, parking, and security fencing around the campus.
Early voting takes place at the Fayette County Elections Office in the Meadows Building in La Grange (275 Ellinger Rd.), Fayetteville Community Center (202 W. Main St.) and Schulenburg Public Library (310 Simpson St.). Early voting hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through this Friday, Oct. 27, and next week Monday through Wednesday, Oct. 30-Nov. 1. All locations will offer extended hours from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. next Thursday, Nov. 2, and Friday, Nov. 3.