Early voting for constitutional amendments, PA Council seat to start Oct. 19

BEAUMONT — The Jefferson County Commissioners’ Court finalized plans on for a Nov. 3 joint election with the City of Port Arthur Monday afternoon.

The county is combining its Constitutional Amendment election, which includes seven propositions submitted by the 84^th Texas Legislature earlier this year, with the City of Port Arthur special election to fill the unexpired Port Arthur Position 7 City Council seat.

All county residents registered to vote will be prompted to side in favor or against the seven proposed amendments to the state Constitution as individual items. If adopted, the amendments would:

• Change the homestead exemption amount for school district property taxes from $15,000 to $25,000
• Exempt property from taxation for surviving spouses of totally disabled veterans
• Repeal the requirement that officers elected by voters statewide reside in the state capital of Austin
• Allow professional sports team charitable foundations to conduct charitable raffles
• Authorize counties with 7,500 people or less to perform private road construction and maintenance
• Provide a right to hunt, fish and harvest wildlife in accordance with conversation laws
• Dedicate a portion of sales and use tax revenue to the state highway fund through 2032

The City of Port Arthur special election will fill the Position 7 seat, left vacant when Councilman Derrick Freeman announced his intention to run for city mayor earlier this year.

Four are running in the Port Arthur race to fill Freeman’s unexpired term: Reginald Trainer, Charlotte Moses, Thomas J. Henderson and Antoine Leonard Freeman Sr.

Michael Shane Sinegal, Jefferson County Commissioner for Precinct 3, said Port Arthur voters should be mindful of authorized voting locations.

Because the city election is a special election, Sinegal said Monday, voting machines will not be set up in Port Arthur City Hall for early voting or on Election Day, Nov. 3.

Early voting for the joint election is scheduled Oct. 19 through Oct. 30 with voting locations in Beaumont, Port Arthur and Port Neches.

For more information about the Constitutional Amendment election and the City of Port Arthur special election, visit www.jeffersonelections.com.

Twitter: @crhenderson90