by Scott Jones

***Our Texas Constitutional Amendment Election is November 2, 2021. Early voting opens on October 18 and ends on October 29. Make sure to look up the locations to vote and the hours on the website of your local county elections department. Don’t forget to vote in this important election.

Constitutional Amendment Election Voter Guide - 11/2/2021 - Christians Engaged

Why do Constitutional Amendments appear on a ballot? In Texas, citizens vote periodically on proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution. How does that happen?

• Article 17 of the Texas Constitution governs amendments to the Constitution.

• The state legislature may propose amendments to the Texas Constitution by two thirds vote of each House.

• To become law a proposed amendment must be approved by a majority of the citizens of the State of Texas who are qualified to vote.

Therefore, in the years when the legislature convenes, Texans get the opportunity to vote for or against changes to the state Constitution.

Why does this matter? The Texas Constitution establishes the fundamental principles of governance for the state. It defines the rights of the citizens of Texas, establishes three branches of government, and defines their powers. It also establishes overarching rules in matters such as suffrage, education, and public lands. A constitutional amendment usually has a broad scope and significantly changes the way the state is governed by establishing or limiting governmental power. Because of the great impact of amendments to the Constitution, the Constitution requires that they must be proposed by two thirds of the legislature and approved by a vote of the citizens. 

What is the process for amendments to the Texas Constitution? 

• The proposition is first filed in either the Texas House or Senate as a Joint Resolution.

• After being read in the appropriate chamber, it is referred to the appropriate committee for review.

• The committee takes testimony, hears public comment, and discusses the resolution.

• The committee votes on the resolution, and if passed it is read a second and third time, and then voted on by the full chamber.

• If the resolution passes a vote of the full chamber with a two-thirds majority, it is sent to the other chamber.

• Again, the resolution is read in the other chamber and sent to the appropriate committee. 

• If the committee approves, the resolution is reported favorably and read a second time.

• The other chamber votes and if the resolution is approved by a two-thirds majority, it is signed and sent to the Secretary of State.

• The Secretary of State then places the approved resolution on the general election ballot as a proposition.

• The voters of the State of Texas then approve (or disapprove) the proposition by majority vote.

What is the responsibility of Christian citizens? In a constitutional republic, God has delegated a portion of His sovereignty to citizens to govern their own affairs. This is a solemn responsibility and demands that Christian citizens execute their duty with excellence by evaluating every proposition, testing it against Biblical values, and then voting accordingly.

• Pray 

  • Pray for wisdom and discernment to decide how to cast your vote.

• Follow the legislation. 

  • Ideally, a citizen will begin following a proposition when it is filed as a Joint Resolution in the state legislature.

  • While, it is difficult for one person to follow every bill filed, each Christian citizen should have sources, such as special interest groups, to keep them informed of key legislation. 

  • It is a simple matter to use the Texas Legislature Online (https://capitol.texas.gov/Home.aspx ) to track Joint Resolutions.

  • Through TLO, citizens can follow all bills, including joint resolutions, and provide comments to their state legislator and senator. 

  • TLO also provides the complete text of each bill. This can be a valuable resource later, when considering a proposition before an election.

• When to Vote.

  • Election Day is normally the first Tuesday in November.

  • Since the legislature meets in odd numbered years, propositions are usually considered in odd years. 

  • But be aware that a special session of the legislature may approve a joint resolution that will carry over to an even year!

  • The Texas Secretary of State web site will have information on upcoming elections involving propositions.

    • https://www.sos.state.tx.us/ 

• Where to Vote:

  • The county is the principal jurisdiction for voting.

  • Voting locations will be posted on your county elections web site.

  • Some counties use county-wide voting centers. Other counties require a voter to vote at his or her assigned precinct. KNOW YOUR COUNTY’S RULES! 

• How to Vote:

  • Again, your county elections web site is the key. On the county elections site, you can:

    • Make sure you are registered to vote.

    • Change your address.

    • Determine election day and early voting dates.

    • Request an absentee or by-mail ballot, 

    • Obtain a sample ballot. 

    • Locate your voting center.

• How to Cast an Informed Vote.

  • Read the proposed amendments (Propositions) ahead of time. 

    • The summary of the proposition on the ballot is NOT A COMPLETE TEXT of the proposition. Sometimes they are too brief to fully understand what is proposed.

    • The Texas Secretary of State will publish a Public Notice in newspapers about two months before the election. The Public Notice will contain a more detailed (but not complete) description of each proposition.

    • If the Public Notice does not clearly describe the proposition, the complete text of the Joint Resolution is available on TLO (see above). 

  • Once you understand what the proposition seeks to do, apply Biblical principles to the proposition to determine if it supports or contradicts a Biblical worldview. Ask yourself: “Will this proposition reward good and/or punish evil?”

  • Cast your vote – FOR propositions that support a Biblical worldview, or AGAINST.

Voting is a solemn delegation of God’s sovereignty to the citizens of the United States. Christians should exercise this responsibility with excellence and discipline. A Christian’s vote should seek to promote righteousness in the sphere of the State and the civil society. This duty applies to constitutional amendments, as well as to the election of officials. A constitutional amendment can affect the governance of the State of Texas for many years to come. 

Our Texas Constitutional Amendment Election is November 2, 2021.

Early voting opens on October 18 and ends on October 29.

Make sure to look up the locations to vote and the hours on the website of your local county elections department.

Don’t forget to vote in this important election!