The election, which is scheduled for Nov. 2, will include eight state constitutional amendments that include topics such as the state’s ability to limit religious services, changing the eligibility requirements for certain positions within the judicial branch, and establishing the right for residents of certain facilities to designate an essential caregiver for in-person visitation.
Amarillo residents will also have the chance to vote on a tax increase. According to previous Globe-News reports, the City Council triggered the election after voting to raise its tax rate 22.77% the next fiscal year. This increase in revenue would go to boost parks and recreation funding, public safety funding, and streets funding, as well as debt service on the Proposition One bond proposal passed by voters in 2016.
The court also approved changing the election administrator’s website from PotterCountyVotes.com to PotterCountyTexasVotes.gov.
Melynn Huntley, elections administrator for Potter County, said it was recommended that all elections-focused websites through governmental entities have a .gov ending. Because other states also have a Potter County, the county had to add Texas to the URL.
“It’s because of some extra layers of security that they have,” she said. “At this time, it is free to do, of course that could change in the future. But .gov’s carry a higher level of confidence with people who sign onto them.”
Potter County Precinct 2 Commissioner Mercy Murguia said during the meeting the change to .gov matches the security audit that the Elections department went through a few years ago. But even with the more security this change could bring, Murguia stressed that the elections administration will have to educate the public more about the change.
“There might be some homework, because you guys have done a really good job promoting that site on social media outlets, in the public (and) in some handouts that have been done,” she said.
During the meeting, Huntley also outlined the voting schedule for the upcoming election. Early voting begins Oct. 18, Huntley said, with various locations serving as early voting sites including the Santa Fe Building, the United Amigos and Casey Carpet One.
For Potter County residents who vote on Election Day, they will have the choice among 14 locations from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., including Potter County Fire Station No. 1 in Bushland, the Don Harrington Discovery Center or the Highland Park Independent School District’s Administration Building.
The court also passed a proclamation, requested by the local branch of the League of Women Voters, promoting the importance of voter registration. The proclamation deemed September as Potter County Voter Registration Awareness Month and Sept. 28 as National Voter Registration Day.
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