Early voting begins Oct. 22 for the Nov. 6 general election. Registered voters may cast their ballot at any polling location in their home county during the early voting period, which ends Nov. 2.

In the 2008 general election, more than 8 million of the state's nearly 14 million registered voters—or 59.5 percent of registered voters—cast their ballots, according the Texas Secretary of State's Office.

In the 2012 presidential primaries in May, slightly more than 16 percent of the state's registered voters cast their ballots.

Current and historical election information is available on the Texas Secretary of State's website, www.votetexas.gov.

Hays County

In Hays County, elections officials have set up 11 early voting locations. The main location—the Hays County Government Center, 712 S. Stagecoach Trail in San Marcos—is open every day during early voting.

The center is open on the following dates and times:

8 a.m.–5 p.m. Oct. 22–26

7 a.m.–7 p.m. Oct. 27, Oct. 29–Nov. 2

1–6 p.m. Oct. 28

Voting times and dates vary by location for the other 10 Hays County early voting sites. On Election Day, Nov. 6, Hays County voters must cast their ballots in their home precinct. Polls are open from 7 a.m.–7 p.m. Nov. 6.

A complete list of polling locations and other Election Day and early voting information is available on the Hays County website, www.co.hays.tx.us/index.php/government/elections-and-voting/november6-general-election/.

In addition to the federal, state and county races, voters in Hays County will be deciding on City Council representation in San Marcos and Buda.

San Marcos residents must decide on three propositions that would determine whether the city should acquire 70 acres of land in the Cape's Camp area, as well as how that land should be acquired—whether by use of eminent domain or by raising taxes to purchase the land.

In Buda, voters will decide on 18 propositions, 17 of which detail procedures and rules for the city and the City Council.

Proposition 1 asks voters to decide on "the legal sale of all alcoholic beverages, including mixed beverages." The proposition would allow for businesses in Buda to make the majority of their revenue from the sale of alcohol.

Travis County

In Travis County, voters have 23 early voting locations to choose from, including what officials have dubbed a "voting megasite" at Highland Mall, 6001 Airport Blvd. in Austin.

The site at the mall will be open every day during early voting and will feature 40 voting stations and extra elections staff to help reduce wait times, according to the county.

Travis County also offers nine mobile voting locations. A complete list of early, mobile and Election Day voting locations is available on the Travis County clerk's website, www.traviscountyclerk.org/eclerk/Content.do?code=E.4.

Officials said voters may need up to 10 minutes to complete the voting process. The ballot includes federal, state, county and local races, along with propositions from Austin ISD, Austin Community College and Central Health.

At its Aug. 15 meeting, the Central Health board of managers unanimously voted to place a proposition on the ballot asking voters to raise the tax rate by 5 cents.

That would take the 2013 tax rate from 7.8956 cents to 12.9 cents per $100 of valuation. If voters approve the proposition, it will mean a $107.29 property tax increase for a taxpayer with an average homestead assessed at $214,567.

Central Health officials said they are asking for the money to pay for projects that could be assisted by federal funds.

Other propositions on the ballot include nearly $385 million in bonds to fund city services; amendments to the city charter; and regulations that would limit terms for Austin City Council members, expand the council to 11 seats and divide the city into 10 single-member districts.

Williamson County

Voters in Williamson County may cast their ballots at any of the 13 early voting sites. All sites are open from 7 a.m.–7 p.m. on weekdays and from noon–6 p.m. on weekends. Sixteen mobile voting sites are also available during early voting; hours and dates vary by location.

As in Hays County, Williamson County voters may cast their ballot at any early voting location, but they must vote at their home precinct on election day.

Complete details on voting locations and hours are available on the county's website, www.wilco.org/CountyDepartments/Elections/tabid/450/Default.aspx.

The majority of candidates in Williamson County races are unopposed. Those with challengers include candidates for district attorney, sheriff, Precinct 3 commissioner and constables in precincts 2 and 4.

Additional reporting contributed by Joe Olivieri and Peter McCrady.