The overview
Early voting for the November election, which began Oct. 23, is seeing a higher rate of turnout in Galveston County compared to November 2021, according to county election numbers.
Each of the first four days had at least 1,300 voters, which was the case for just one day in 2021, data shows. Most early voting days in 2021, which takes place for about two weeks prior to the official Election Day, saw between 300 and 600 voters, with a few exceptions.
Through the first four days, more than 5,600 people have cast their ballots, according to election data from the county. That total sat at a little more than 1,400 in 2021 through four days.
What else?
Galveston County has a few local items on the ballot in 2023. They include voter-approval tax rate elections for Clear Creek ISD and Friendswood ISD, according to the county’s sample ballot.
CCISD, along with Santa Fe ISD and the Bacliff Municipal Utility District, also have bond elections, the sample ballot shows. Other items on the local level include:
- A trustee election for Galveston ISD
- A local sales tax election for both the cities of Bayou Vista and Dickinson
- A measure to remove a member of of La Marque’s City Council election
There are 14 state propositions on this year’s ballot, many of which are for specific counties.
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One other item, Proposition 4, is to raise the homestead exemption in the state from $40,000 to $100,000, which would mean less taxable value on a property, and therefore lower overall tax bills.
Some others that are statewide include:
- A constitutional amendment to increase the mandatory retirement age for state justices and judges
- Constitutional amendments creating a number of funds, such as park funding, broadband funding, energy funding and water funding for various projects
- Allowing the 88th state Legislature to make a cost-of-living adjustment to the Teacher Retirement System of Texas
