Constitutional election voting runs through Friday primary filing begins soon

Seven constitutional amendments will be on the ballot Tuesday, Nov. 7, and filing for next year’s primary elections begins Nov. 11. Though election day doesn’t come around for another two weeks, early voting for the election began Monday, Oct. 23 and will continue until Friday, Oct. 27 for the first round of early voting. Election Administrator Lauren Sullivan said after a successful run of the new voting machines in two prior elections, that they are ready for voters in Graham. “We used them in Olney and Newcastle and there was no trouble with them at all, they worked perfectly,” Sullivan said. Election information Early voting for the election will be at North Central Texas College at 928 Cherry St., Graham, and the Olney Community Library at 807 W. Hamilton St., Olney, on weekdays Oct. 23-27 and Oct. 30-Nov. 3 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Applications for ballots by mail must be received by Sullivan at 561 Fourth St., Room B1, Graham TX 76450, or faxed to 940-221-2104 by 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 27. Voting locations in the county on election day are North Central Texas College at 928 Cherry St., Graham, Newcastle City Hall at 608 Broad Way Avenue, Newcastle, Loving Volunteer Fire Department, 8891 Hwy 114, Loving, and Olney Community Library, 807 W. Hamilton St., Olney. Young County registered voters can choose to vote at any of the four eligible voting locations. Amendments • Amendment 1 (HJR 21) - Allows the legislature to provide an exemption from ad valorem taxation of part of the market value of the residence homestead of a partially disabled veteran or the surviving spouse of a partially disabled veteran if the residence homestead was donated to the disabled veteran by a charitable organization for less than the market value of the residence homestead and harmonizing certain related provisions of the Texas Constitution. • Amendment 2 (SJR 60) - Establishes a lower amount for expenses that can be charged to a borrower and removing certain financing expense limitations for a home equity loan, establishing certain authorized lenders to make a home equity loan, changing certain options for the refinancing of home equity loans, changing the threshold for an advance of a home equity line of credit, and allowing home equity loans on agricultural homesteads. • Amendment 3 (SJR 34) - Prevents certain office holders from serving indefinitely beyond the expiration of their term. Those appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate and receive no salary would only be able to serve until the last day of the first regular session of the legislature that begins after their term expires. • Amendment 4 (SJR 6) - Allows the legislature to require a court to provide notice to the attorney general of a challenge to the constitutionality of a state statute, if the party raising the challenge notifies the court that the party is challenging the constitutionality of the statute. It also authorizes the legislature to set a period of not more than 45 days following the notification to the attorney general that the court must wait before rending a judgement holding the statue unconstitutional. • Amendment 5 (HJR 100) - Provides a more detailed definition of “professional sports team” for the purposes of their charitable foundation, which the Texas legislature will if passed, permit to hold charitable raffles. It also deletes a requirement that an eligible professional sports team charitable foundation permitted by the Texas legislature to hold charitable raffles be in existence on Jan. 1, 2016. • Amendment 6 (SJR 1) - Authorizes the legislature to provide an exemption from ad valor taxation of all of part of the market value of the residence or homestead of the surviving spouse of a first responder who killed or fatally injured in the line of duty. This benefit will only remain available if the surviving spouse has not remarried since the death of the first responder and would only apply to ad valorem taxes imposed for a tax year beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2018. • Amendment 7 (HJR 37) - Establishes an exception to allow the Texas legislature to authorize credit unions and other financial institution to have programs that in order to encourage saving, would award prizes based on luck or chance to the credit union’s or financial institution’s customers. The Texas Constitution requires the Texas legislature to pass laws prohibiting lotteries, raffles and other program where the award of gifts is based on luck or chance and this amendment would be an exception to those rules. Primary Election Filling Filling for primary elections begins Saturday, Nov. 11 and will continue through Monday, Dec. 11. Seats Offices up for election in the 2018 primary election include: U.S. Senator - Ted Cruz (6 year term) Governor - Greg Abbott(4 year term) Lt. Governor - Dan Patrick (4 year term) Attorney General - Ken Paxton (4 year term) Comptroller of Public Accounts - Glenn Hegar (4 year term) Commissioner of General Land Office - George P. Bush (4 year term) Commissioner of Agriculture - Sid Miller (4 year term) Railroad Commissioner - Christi Craddick (6 year term) State Senator, District 30 - Craig Estes (4 year term) State Representative, District 68 - Drew Springer (2 year term) Justice, 2nd Court of Appeals, Places 2 and 7 - Bill Meier and Lee Gabriel (6 year term) Young County Judge - John Bullock (4 year term) District Clerk - Jamie Freeze Land (4 year term) Young County Clerk - Kay Hardin (4 year term) Young County Treasurer - Ann Daily (4 year term) Young County Commissioners, Precinct 2 and 4 - Matt Pruitt and Jimmy Wiley (4 year term) Justices of the Peace, Precinct 1 and 3 - Robert Dial and Stan G. Mahler (4 year term) Unexpired Term of Constable, Precinct 3 - Freddie Page (4 year term)