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A special election Nov. 4 will see Elgin voters weigh in on 14 proposed amendments to the city’s governing document.
Potential changes to the Elgin Home Rule Charter — which outlines the city’s governing structure and powers — include technical clarifications, administrative reform and procedural updates. Charter amendments followed a series of petitions, public hearings and input from a designated committee to reach the ballot box.
Each of the 14 proposed changes appears as a separate proposition on the ballot, allowing registered residents to vote “for” or “against” each individually.
In addition to the local items, Texas voters statewide will also decide on 17 proposed constitutional amendments. For information on those, visit texaspolicyresearch. com.
Early voting runs through Oct. 31.
_ PROP. A — Removes language deemed repetitive or unnecessary from the charter and summarizes overlapping state laws.
_ PROP. B — Brings city procedures into compliance with state election laws, including ballot name formatting, canvassing results and submitting voter petitions.
_ PROP. C — Clarifies that candidates for ward seats must live in the ward for at least 12 months before the election.
_ PROP. D — Eliminates rider threshold requirements for public bus lines before funding can be pledged to train projects.
_ PROP. E — Extends mayor and City Council terms from two years to three years, aligning elections on a staggered three-year cycle.
_ PROP. F — Requires council members to live in the ward they represent for the duration of their term.
_ PROP. G — Reduces the number of unexcused absences that result in forfeiture of office for council members from three consecutive meetings to two.
_ PROP. H — Clarifies conflicts of interest that would require the mayor and council members to recuse themselves from votes under state law.
_ PROP. I — Mandates an annual performance evaluation of the city manager by the City Council.
_ PROP. J — Limits the ability to recall a council member elected by ward to only voters who live within that ward.
_ PROP. K — Requires the city secretary to issue petition forms for recall, initiative or referendum efforts within three business days after the petitioners’ affidavit is filed.
_ PROP. L — Allows ordinances passed by voter initiative or referendum to be published on the city’s website rather than the city’s official newspaper of record, the Elgin Courier.
_ PROP. M — Modernizes charter language to be gender-neutral by replacing terms such as “he” with inclusive alternatives.
_ PROP. N — Establishes term limits of four consecutive terms for mayor or council members, and eight total combined terms for serving in both roles.
