Dallas City Homes does not endorse candidates or ballot measures. This guide is for information only; confirm details with your county elections office.
If you own a home in North Texas, part of your monthly payment is decided at the ballot box in 2026. If you rent, property taxes are built into your payment as well. This November, several measures touch housing costs directly including a Dallas County property tax rate vote to city bonds that are repaid through property taxes. This guide doesn't tell you which way to cast your ballot, but does facilitate voting through information, giving you the dates, what's on the ballot, and the housing angle, for you to decide.
Key dates
Early voting opens Monday, Oct. 19, and Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. The registration deadline (Oct. 5) has passed, so check now that your registration is active.
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| Mon., Oct. 19 | Early voting begins |
| Fri., Oct. 23 | Mail ballot application must be received (not postmarked) by your county's early voting clerk |
| Sat., Oct. 24 – Sun., Oct. 25 | Weekend early voting (Sunday hours are shorter) |
| Fri., Oct. 30 | Last day of early voting |
| Tue., Nov. 3 | Election Day, polls open 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.; mail ballots due by 7 p.m. |
| Sat., Dec. 12 | Runoff election, if any race needs one |
Early voting hours vary by day and county, so confirm them with your county elections office before you go. Only voters 65 and older, voters with a disability, voters who will be out of the county, and a few other groups can vote by mail in Texas.
What is on the ballot, and why it matters.
Your exact ballot depends on your address, however here are the housing-related items most Dallas-area voters will see.
Dallas County Proposition A: property tax rate for homelessness programs. The county set a rate of $0.248650 per $100 of value, 2.4 cents above the $0.224650 it can adopt without voter approval. Last year's rate was $0.215500. If approved: the county estimates about $102.9 million more for homeless outreach, housing assistance, mental health care and resolving encampments.
If rejected: the rate falls back to $0.224650. On the county's median homestead ($268,056 taxable), the county share would be about $666.52 a year, roughly $64 more than at the fallback rate. Supporters say it moves more people into stable housing; opponents say it adds to already high ownership and rental costs.
City of Dallas Proposition A: $443 million public safety bond. It would fund a police property and evidence building (150 M) training complex at Dallas Airport (149M) the training center at UNT Dallas (82M), and a replacement fire station at Akard and Canton ($22M). City bonds are repaid through the debt portion of your property tax bill. Supporters link the facilities to police recruiting and neighborhood safety; opponents question the price.
State and federal races. Texans also choose a U.S. senator, governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, comptroller, land commissioner, agriculture commissioner, railroad commissioner, statehouse seats and appellate judges. The Legislature and governor shape homestead exemptions, appraisal limits and school property tax relief, so these races affect your housing costs too.
Where to vote and what to bring
In Dallas County you can vote at any vote center in the county, during early voting and on Election Day. Find locations and wait times at DallasCountyVotes.org.
Confirm your registration at VoteTexas.gov ("Am I Registered?").
Preview your sample ballot on your county elections site so you know which propositions apply to your address.
Bring a photo ID: a Texas driver's license, Texas ID card, Election Identification Certificate, handgun license, U.S. passport, military ID or citizenship certificate with photo. No ID? Ask a poll worker about the alternative declaration.
Bring notes on paper. You can use a printed guide or sample ballot, but not your phone, in the voting booth.
Resources for Dallas Voters.
