Voter guide: What to know to vote on statewide proposals, ME's bond in Lubbock County

Alex Driggars, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
·5 min read
People vote during Election Day at Calvary Baptist Church, Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, in Lubbock.

Voters across the South Plains and Texas will head to the polls Tuesday to make their voice heard on a number of state constitutional amendments and several local issues.

What's on the ballot in Lubbock County?

In Lubbock County, voters will decide whether the county can issue $35.5 million in bonds to fund a proposed new medical examiner's office.

If approved by Lubbock County voters, the $35.5 million in bond-supported funds would be used along with $10 million in federal ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funding previously approved for allocation by the county to pay for what would be an approximately $45 million project to re-establish an in-house medical examiner's office in the county, according to previous reporting.

The bond proposal would add about 3/4 of a cent per $100 valuation onto the Lubbock County property tax rate. That would amount to about $15 more per year on a $200,000 home, the Avalanche-Journal previously reported.

More: Lubbock County leaders OK bond election for new Medical Examiner's office

Our view: Lubbock County voters should OK ME's office, demand timely follow-through

Meanwhile in Wolfforth, voters will consider whether to adopt a city charter to become a home-rule municipality.

Wolfforth is currently classified as a Texas class A general-law city, which do not have city charters and are generally municipalities with under 5,000 people. Texas home-rule cities generally have more flexibility in governance and policy compared to general-law cities, and cities can vote to become home-rule cities once their populations surpass 5,000. Wolfforth's population is estimated at just over 6,000, according to the latest U.S. Census data.

A charter commission was appointed in February and has worked since March to craft the "constitution of Wolfforth," which voters will have the opportunity to approve on the Tuesday ballot. The charter, if adopted, will determine how the City of Wolfforth is governed and grants additional powers to its citizens.

More: Wolfforth voters to consider adopting charter as home-rule city

In Abernathy, residents will decide whether the city becomes "wet," deciding whether to authorize a local option allowing the sale of beer and wine for off-premise consumption.

Abernathy Independent School District voters will consider a pair of bond proposals — $2.6 million for facility renovations, land and school buses, and $750,000 to replace the turf at the district's football stadium.

In addition to the local issues, 14 Texas constitutional amendments will be on the ballot, including a proposition that would create the Texas University Fund, providing billions of dollars in research funding annually for Texas Tech and other emerging state universities.

More: 14 constitutional amendments on the Texas ballot on Election Day and what they mean

More: Texas University Fund goes to vote in November, here's what to know

Our view: TUF would give Texas Tech, major state universities potent research boost

The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal will have election results and highlights beginning Tuesday evening at lubbockonline.com.

What do I need to bring with me to the polls?

Voters will need a form of identification to cast a ballot. Acceptable forms of photo ID include: Texas driver license, Texas election ID certificate, Texas personal ID card, Texas handgun license, U.S. citizenship certificate with photo, U.S. military ID with photo or U.S. passport.

If a voter does not have an ID and cannot reasonably obtain one, other options are available. Those are listed at votelubbock.org or by calling (806) 775-1339.

Lubbock County began using new voting machines with a paper ballot backup last year after Texas lawmakers in 2021 passed a law requiring counties to have a paper method for voting. Voting will still be done on electronic kiosks; however, a piece of paper will be printed off and needs to be fed into a scanner as part of the state-mandated effort supporters say will help prevent voter fraud.

Where can I vote in Lubbock County?

Registered Lubbock County voters can cast their ballot at any of nearly 40 vote centers across the county. Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m., and any voter in line by 7 p.m. will be allowed to cast a ballot.

Lubbock County vote centers are listed below:

  • Abernathy City Hall – 811 Ave. D (Community Room), Abernathy

  • Bacon Heights Baptist Church – 5110 54th St. (2 Commons Room), Lubbock

  • Broadview Baptist Church – 1302 N. Frankford Ave. (Fellowship Hall), Lubbock

  • Broadway Church of Christ – 1924 Broadway (Foyer) Lubbock

  • Calvary Baptist Church – 5301 82nd St. (Mall Area), Lubbock (American Sign Language interpreters are available at this location.)

  • Casey Administration Building – 501 Seventh St. (Room No. 104), Wolfforth

  • Catholic Diocese of Lubbock – 4620 Fourth St. (Archbishop Michael J Sheehan Hall), Lubbock

  • Cavazos Middle School – 210 N. University Ave. (Gym), Lubbock

  • Celebration Christian Center – 8001 Upland Ave. (Sanctuary), Lubbock

  • Church on the Rock – 10503 Slide Road (Café Area), Lubbock

  • Copper Rawlings Senior Center – 213 40th St. (Social Hall), Lubbock

  • Elks Lodge No. 1348 – 3409 Milwaukee Ave. (Lodge Hall), Lubbock

  • First Assembly of God Church – 3801 98th St. (Classroom), Lubbock

  • Green Lawn Church of Christ – 5701 19th St. (Entry Hall), Lubbock

  • Heritage Middle School – 6110 73rd St. (Library), Lubbock

  • Hodges Community Center – 4011 University Ave. (Social Hall), Lubbock

  • Idalou Community Center – 202 W. Seventh St., Idalou

  • Lubbock-Cooper Middle School – 16310 Loop 493 (Conference Room), Lubbock

  • Lubbock-Cooper North Elementary School – 3202 108th St. (Gym), Lubbock

  • Lubbock ISD Administration Office – 1628 19th St. (Breezeway), Lubbock

  • Mae Simmons Community Center – 2004 Oak Ave. (Activity Room), Lubbock

  • Maggie Trejo Supercenter – 3200 Amherst St. (Rodgers Community Center Social Hall), Lubbock

  • Matthews Academy High School – 417 N. Akron Ave. (Gym), Lubbock

  • Mattress Firm – 6707 Slide Road (Breakroom), Lubbock

  • New Deal Community Clubhouse – 309 S. Monroe Ave., New Deal

  • Parsons Elementary School – 2811 58th St. (Gym), Lubbock

  • Patterson Library – 1836 Parkway Drive (Community Room), Lubbock

  • Roberts Elementary School – 7901 Ave. P (Gym), Lubbock

  • Roosevelt ISD Arena – 1301 County Road 3300 (West Concourse), Lubbock

  • Roscoe Wilson Elementary School – 2807 25th St. (Gym), Lubbock

  • Shallowater Community Center – 902 Ave. H, Shallowater

  • Slaton Community Clubhouse – 750 W. Garza St. (Community Room), Slaton

  • South Plains Church of Christ – 6802 Elkhart Ave. (Gym Area), Lubbock

  • Sunset Church of Christ – 3625 34th St. (Powerhouse), Lubbock

  • Sutherlands HomeBase – 3701 50th St. (Near Lighting Section), Lubbock

  • Terra Vista Middle School – 1111 Upland Ave. (Library), Lubbock

  • Texas Tech University Student Union Building – 15th Street and Akron Avenue, Lubbock

  • YWCA – 6501 University Ave. (Front Room), Lubbock

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Voter guide: What you need to know for Election Day in Lubbock County