El Pasoans head to polls under new Texas voter ID law

Residents head to the polls Tuesday to decide on nine constitutional amendments on the ballot.

It is the first election under the new Texas Voter ID Law.

Voters are now required to show a photo identification in order to cast a ballot.

Forms of identification that are valid include a driver’s license, personal identification card, concealed handgun license, U.S. passport, military identification or citizenship certificate with a photo.

Any form of identification expired more than 60 days will not be accepted.

The head of elections for El Paso County, Javier Chacon said no voters were turned away because they didn’t comply with the Voter ID Law during early voting, and only three voters filled out provisional ballots.

Chacon said about 5,200 voters turned out during early voting.

“I want to thank the voters of El Paso for making the transition smooth. And complying with it. Of course there probably were some concerns, some people didn’t want to sign here, sign there, but once we explained to them the process and the procedures we have to go through, they were very accommodating,” said Chacon.

At the polls Tuesday, voters will have nine constitutional amendments to decide on.

The amendments on the ballot range from items tied to taxes, hospital districts and the creation of a state water implementation fund.

Proposition 6 would create a Texas state water fund.

It would allow about $2 billion to be taken directly from the state’s rainy day fund to create new funds to pay for priority projects in the state’s water plan, but doesn’t specify the projects.

Proposition 1 would provide a property tax exemption for the spouses of military personnel killed in action, but only to those who have not remarried.

The same amount of the tax exemption could carry over to a new property.

Polls open at 7 a.m and will remain open until 7 p.m.