It’s election day on this Tuesday, November 4, 2025, in Texas. The polls opened at 7:00 a.m. and close at 7:00 p.m. Nearly 1.4 million people voted early. That’s according to data released by the Secretary of State’s Office (SOS). That’s just under 8% of the 18.4 million registered voters statewide. If the early voting this time around is any indication, voter turnout could mirror that of the previous constitutional election back in 2023, when 14.4% of registered voters came out to vote, the highest since 2005.
As Texas Public Radio reports, one of the 17 proposed amendments to the state constitution would grant the governor significant new powers when it comes to disciplining or even dismissing elected judges. The State Commission on Judicial Conduct is an independent agency run by a mix of judges, attorneys appointed by the State Bar, and citizens appointed by the governor.
Proposition 12 would let the governor name a majority of the commission’s members. John Domino is an expert on law and judicial politics at Sam Houston State University. “I believe that any attempt at so-called accountability and transparency is just an attempt to be able to push and pressure judges in some way and intrude upon independence.” Domino notes that six years ago, Governor Greg Abbott removed two of the commission members that acted against Abbott’s wishes by voting to discipline a justice of the peace who refused to perform same-sex marriages.”
Other proposed constitutional amendments on the statewide Texas ballot this election day include a measure to expand the homestead exemption, restricting bail, and directing billions of dollars toward research on dementia and water infrastructure.
For a listing of the ballot language for all 17 amendments [provided by the SOS office] just click here.
In fact, A majority of the proposed constitutional amendments address the $51 billion in property tax cuts over the next two years for homeowners and businesses. Lawmakers approved the massive tax breaks back in May of this year. Gov. Greg Abbott signed House Bill 9, Senate Bill 4, and Senate Bill 23 into law during a ceremony June 16, 2025 at Robson Ranch Clubhouse in Denton, Texas.
Depending on where you live, your ballot might also include city council or mayoral races.
Voting Assistance: You can find a personalized ballot based on where you live by visiting the Vote 411 website. You can also verify your voter registration by using the Texas Secretary of State's My Voter Portal. The deadline to register for this election has passed. If you missed the deadline, you can get registered for the next election by visiting the Vote Texas website.
Acceptable Photo Identifications:
The Secretary of State’s office says people 70 years of age or older may use an expired ID. ID address does not have to match the voter registration address. Texans do not need the new "Real ID" driver’s license to vote.
