Early voting is getting underway in Texas in preparation for the November 4th elections, with Monday the first day of "absentee balloting."
In addition to lots of local races among cities across the state, there will be 17 propositions on the ballots for Texans to consider, including a state budget that would include $51 billion in property tax cuts that would benefit senior citizens and disabled people, veterans' spouses, some businesses and a lot of homeowners.
Since Texas has been experiencing drought and an increasing need to allocate water to certain parched areas of the state, one of the most important proposals is Proposition 4, a state constitutional amendment which would dedicate up to $1 billion per year from existing sales tax revenue to the Texas Water Fund for 20 years.
Preventing the imposition of new taxes on capital gains and inheritances are the subject of other propositions to be considered by voters.
Another proposal would clarify the rules for citizenship in voting requirements.
And there's also a proposition to limit situations in which a person can be released on bail.
Early voting ends on Halloween.