Early voting starts Monday in Houston's mayoral election, along with Harris County's $2.5 billion bond proposal, more than a dozen constitutional amendments in Texas, and various other municipal and school races.
The statewide amendments include everything from increasing the homestead exemption to teachers pay, broadband internet and even removing Galveston County's treasurer.
Voter turnout is typically much lower in off year elections, but the stakes are higher in the city of Houston.
"While most Texans are only voting on these 14 statewide propositions, Houstonians are going to be elected the mayor, city council and controller, who will be in power over the next four years," says Mark Jones, fellow in political science at Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy.
"There's a $2.5 billion bond for the Harris County Hospital District, that if passed, will provide funding for LBJ Hospital and to a lesser extent Ben Taub. But it also will result in an increase in property taxes that every Harris County homeowner pays."
There are also various races and propositions in Bellaire, Jersey Village, Katy and Cy-Fair ISDs, Harris County emergency services and local MUDs.
View sample ballot here.
Jones urges everyone to cast a ballot early, to avoid any issues on Election Day.
"Because of Harris County's continued use of Election Day vote centers, and broad use of Election Day vote center, you could see some delays. You could see some chaos," he says. "I don't think it will be nearly as bad as what we had in 2022, but it's always a possibility."
Photo: Grace Cary / Moment / Getty Images