Harris County's early voting period opens Monday, Oct. 19, and runs through Friday, Oct. 30, giving Spring voters two weeks to cast ballots before Election Day.

The Nov. 3 general election features federal, state and local races. Registered voters can visit any Harris County Vote Center during early voting. They are not assigned to a single location, according to Harris County's election website.

Hours run Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 7 p.m. On Election Day, polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Voters can find their nearest Vote Center and view a personalized sample ballot at HarrisVotes.com.

What's on the ballot

Statewide contests include U.S. Senate, governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, comptroller, land commissioner, agriculture commissioner and railroad commissioner, according to Community Impact.

Closer to home, the ballot includes Harris County Judge, with Democrat Letitia Plummer facing Republican Orlando Sanchez. Harris County Commissioner Precinct 2 pits incumbent Adrian Garcia against Republican Richard Vega, and Precinct 4 has incumbent Lesley Briones against Republican Steve Radack, according to Fox 26 Houston. Harris County Commissioner Precinct 3, which covers Spring, is not on the ballot this cycle.

Texas House District 150, centered on Spring and southern Montgomery County, features Republican incumbent Valoree Swanson against Democrat A'Yonna Kellum, according to the Houston Chronicle's voter guide.

Two local boards also have seats up: Old Town Spring Improvement District Positions Four and Five, and North Harris County Regional Water Authority Position 1.

Spring ISD Prop A

One of the most consequential local items is Spring ISD Proposition A, a voter-approved tax rate election (VATRE). If approved, Prop A would raise the district's total tax rate by 2 cents to $1.1569 per $100 of property value. The increase applies to the maintenance and operations portion of the rate and would generate an estimated $15.5 million in combined local and state funding.

For the average Spring ISD home valued at $248,315, the increase would cost homeowners with a homestead exemption about $22 more per year, according to the district's Prop A page. Homeowners 65 or older or those with a disability homestead exemption are generally protected by a tax ceiling and would not see an increase.

Superintendent Kregg Cuellar said at the August board meeting, when trustees voted unanimously to place the measure on the ballot, that Prop A would protect the district's recent progress and ensure continued funding. "Proposition A is about protecting that progress and making sure we have the resources to continue moving forward," Cuellar said.

Voter ID requirements

Texas law requires one of seven approved photo IDs at the polls, including a Texas driver's license, personal ID card, handgun license, election ID certificate, U.S. military ID, citizenship certificate or passport. Voters ages 18 to 69 may use an ID expired up to four years. Voters 70 and older can use an otherwise valid ID regardless of expiration.

Voters without an approved photo ID can sign a reasonable impediment declaration and present an alternative form of identification such as a birth certificate, utility bill or paycheck.

Handwritten notes and printed sample ballots are allowed inside the voting booth. Guns, cellphones, tablets and smartwatches are prohibited.

Registration issues

The voter registration deadline was Oct. 5. About 300,000 Harris County residents were placed on voter suspense lists ahead of the Nov. 3 election, Houston Public Media reported in September. Voters on the suspense list can still vote by completing a statement of residence form at the polls.

Harris County also confirmed Oct. 3 that it cleared a backlog of 75,000 late voter registration records from the state, according to ABC 13.

Voters who registered before the deadline but do not appear on the rolls can cast a provisional ballot. Anyone with questions can call the Texas Secretary of State's election hotline at 1-800-252-VOTE (8683).

The deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot is Friday, Oct. 23.