EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — With it being an odd-numbered year, Borderland residents may not realize there is an election actually coming up on Tuesday, Nov. 4.
To help voters in both El Paso and Dona Ana counties get prepared we have compiled an Election Guide.
Here is a quick overview of some of the issues on the ballot and where to find more information.
El Paso overview
In El Paso County, two school districts — Socorro Independent School District and Tornillo ISD — will have VATRE, or tax ratification elections, where voters are asked to increase the property tax rate.
In the Village of Vinton, the mayor and two spots on the Village Council will be up for election.
In the Town of Clint, voters can vote for up to three people for at-large representation on the Town Council.
The City of Socorro has one contested race for City Council and two uncontested races.
There are also multiple ballot propositions for voters in the Horizon Regional Municipal Utility District.
The State of Texas also has 17 ballot propositions on the ballot.
Key dates for El Paso County voters
- Monday, Oct. 6: Last day to register to vote
- Monday, Oct. 20: First day of early voting; last day to apply for ballot by mail
- Friday, Oct. 31: Last day of early voting
- Tuesday, Nov. 4: Election Day; last day to receive ballot by mail
Where to find information
You find information on the Nov. 4 election by going to the El Paso County Elections Department’s website and clicking on the “current elections” tab. You can also get there by clicking here.
There, you can find sample ballots, information on early voting and other help.
If you are a registered voter, you can get a personalized sample ballot. You need your full name and date of birth or your voter ID number found on your voter registration card.
What is on the ballot? With language from the ballot
Socorro ISD
Proposition A: This is a tax increase
“Ratifying the ad valorem tax rate of $1.0589 per $100 valuation in the Socorro Independent School District for the current year, a rate that will result in an increase of 14.91 percent in maintenance and operations tax revenue for the District for the current year as compared to the preceding year, which is an additional $15,080,585.”
- For
- Against
Tornillo ISD
Proposition A: This is a tax increase
“Ratifying the ad valorem tax rate of $1.207800 per $100 valuation in the Tornillo Independent School District for the current year, a rate that will result in an increase of 29.88 percent in maintenance and operations tax revenue for the District for the current year as compared to the preceding year, which is an additional $237,252.”
- For
- Against
Village of Vinton
- Mayor
- Rachel Quintana
- Juvencia Rios Ontiveros
- Samuel “Sam” Monrreal
- Alderman, Place 1
- David Duran
- Dolores Diaz
- Alderman, Place 2
- Leticia Gonzalez
- Perry K. Duby
City of Socorro
- Alderman, District 1
- Cesar Nevarez
- Rene Rodriguez
- Alderman, District 2
- Alejandro Garcia
- Alderman, District 3
- Gina Cordero
Town of Clint
- Alderman, district at-large (vote for none, one, two or three)
- Addam Hernandez
- Albert Duran
- Daniel (Dan) Vallejo
- Rose Hernandez
Horizon Regional Municipal Utility District
Ravenna Defined Area
“The reconfirmation of the designation of the Ravenna Defined Area; and the reduction of an ad valorem operations and maintenance tax from $1.00/$100 valuation to an amount not to exceed $.20/$100 valuation of taxable property within the Ravenna Defined Area.”
- For
- Against
Hunt Properties
Proposition A
“Designation of Hunt Properties Defined Area?”
- For
- Against
Proposition B
“This is a tax increase. The issuance of bonds in the maximum amount for forty-nine million, nine hundred and seventy thousand dollars and 00/100 dollars for water, sanitary sewer and drainage system improvements to serve Hunt Properties Defined Area and the levy of ad valorem taxes within the Hunt Properties Defined Area sufficient to pay the principal and interest on the bonds.”
- For
- Against
Proposition C
“This is a tax increase. The issuance of bonds in the maximum amount of forty-nine million, nine hundred and seventy thousand dollars and 00/100 dollars ($49,970,000) for refunding any bonds or refunding bonds of Hunt Properties Defined Area, and the levy of ad valorem taxes, within Hunt Properties Defined Area sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on the bonds.”
- For
- Against
Proposition D
“This is a tax increase. The imposition of an ad valorem operations and maintenance tax not to exceed $.50000/$100 valuation of taxable property within the Hunt Properties Defined Area.”
State of Texas
There are 17 state propositions on the ballot. The majority are measures meant to lower taxes for various categories of Texas voters, including homeowners, businesses, elderly and disabled homeowners and spouses of veterans, among others.
Proposition 3 would create a constitutional amendment denying bail under certain circumstances.
According to the Texas Tribune, this proposition would require judges to deny bail in certain cases for individuals accused of committing specific felonies, such as murder, aggravated assault and indecency with a child. The state would have to demonstrate that bail is not enough to prevent the defendant from being a flight or public safety risk. Defendants, who are legally presumed innocent, would also be entitled to the right to an attorney during their bail hearings.
You can see a sample ballot of the ballot propositions and the exact language of each by clicking here.
Doña Ana County
Doña Ana County overview
County-wide voters have two ballot propositions:
- $105 million in bonds for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, and equipping of new, enhanced, and upgraded recreational centers, parks/trails, community centers, and for acquisition, planning, design, construction, and equipping of water/wastewater systems.
- $35 million in bonds for acquiring, design, planning, construction, and equipping of event venue upgrades at the County fairgrounds.
In Las Cruces, three City Council seats are for up election. There are two contested seats on the Las Cruces Public Schools Board.
There are three seats being contested on the Gadsden ISD Board.
Voters in the Gadsden ISD are also being asked to approve a $75 million bond initiative for erecting, remodeling, making additions to and furnishing school buildings, including teacher
housing; purchasing or improving school grounds; purchasing computer software and hardware for student use in public schools; and providing matching funds for capital outlay projects.
In the City of Anthony, New Mexico, the mayor and two spots on the City Council are being contested.
Las Cruces Public Schools
Las Cruces Public schools will have information sessions with Superintendent Ignacio Ruiz to outline priorities for the upcoming school bond and mill ley elections.
One ballot question would impose a property tax of $3 for each $1,000 of net taxable property value for the next six years for capital improvements in the district.
A second ballot question involves issuing $65 million in bonds for the purpose of erecting, remodeling, making additions to and furnishing school buildings; purchasing and improving school gournds; purchasing school software and hardware for student use; and providing matching funds for capital projects.
The public sessions are designed to help voters in the November election understand how the proposed measures are designed to support student learning, maintain facilities, and continue investments in safe, modern school environments, the district said.
LCPS said the ballot measures will not increase the tax rate.
One priority the district has identified is using school bond funding to start the first phase of renovations at Mayfield High School.
Community members are invited to learn more and ask questions at at two scheduled opportunities:
Wednesday, Oct. 22 at 6 p.m.
Dr. Karen M. Trujillo Administration Complex
505 S. Main St., Suite 249
This session will be livestreamed on LCPS-TV via the LCPS YouTube channel. Viewers may participate by submitting questions through the live chat feature.
Thursday, Oct. 23 at 6 p.m.
Organ Mountain High School Performing Arts Center
This session will be in-person only.
For more information about the district’s s bond priorities, you can click here.
Information for Dona Ana County
You can find out more about voting and what is on the ballot in Doña Ana County by clicking here.
This Election Guide will continue to be updated as we get and collect more information.
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