Your Voice, Your Vote
A Houston Landing guide to this November’s local elections, and why they matter.
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Beyond the national elections
Looking down your ballot
Dear Houstonians,
Once a veteran political consultant told me: the one thing every politician fears is your vote — because they cannot control what you do in the voting booth.
Voting is the ultimate power in a democracy.
At Houston Landing, we do not endorse candidates or policies. Our mission is to empower the community. Today we publish this guide from reporter Tim Carlin explaining how local elections impact our everyday lives through down-ballot races — how tax dollars are spent, how jails are run, how evictions are handled. We hope it helps you to cast your vote with confidence.
Manny García
Houston Landing Editor in Chief
Chapter Two
Policy Center
This November, you will elect two county commissioners, a tax-assessor collector and a county attorney.
These officials act as stewards of your tax dollars, create and interpret countywide policies and chart the future course of the third largest county in the country.
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Did you know?
In Harris County, the average effective property tax rate is 2.13% of your home’s value.
The county commissioners you elect this November will be two of the five people who decide whether that property tax rate increases.
Learn moreChapter Three
Public Safety
This November, you will elect a district attorney, a sheriff and eight constables.
Harris County is home to the most active constables in Texas and third-largest sheriff’s office in the country. For the nearly 2 million residents living in unincorporated parts of Harris County, these elections will determine the leaders of the law enforcement offices with the most direct impact on your communities.
Learn moreDid you know?
Harris County constables have unique and expansive powers their counterparts in other Texas counties do not.
Residents in seven of the eight constable precincts can pay for increased community patrols through a contract deputy program.
Learn moreChapter Four
Judges
A slew of judicial races will be on the ballot this November.
And while it may be easy to ignore these dozens of open positions, the winners of these races will spend the next four or six years ruling on everything from speeding tickets to landlord-tenant disputes to probate cases involving guardianships or contested wills.
Learn moreDid you know?
Candidates are not required to have a law degree or any prior legal experience to be a justice of the peace in Texas.
Unlike other courts that require candidates to have practiced law for a certain number of years, justices of the peace are under no such requirements.
Learn moreChapter Five
Your Vote
There are five key dates to watch for the November election.
Click a date to add it to your calendar.
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Did you know?
Texas requires voters to bring one of seven specific forms of photo identification to vote.
A state handgun license is one option.
Learn moreChapter Six
Resources and Credits
Where you can find more election information, and how you can get in touch with us!
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Thank you to the following sponsors who have made this coverage possible
At Houston Landing we value our sponsors and our community. Interested in becoming a sponsor? Email our Chief Development Officer, Heather Houston, at heather@houstonlanding.org.