Government

Residents across Cypress, Jersey Village and West Houston can begin casting their ballots today, Monday, October 19, in an election that will help determine who leads Harris County, who represents Texas in Washington and Austin, and how Cypress-Fairbanks ISD funds its schools in the years ahead.

For homeowners in Bridgeland, Towne Lake, Copperfield, Fairfield, Coles Crossing and surrounding neighborhoods, this year's ballot includes several decisions with direct ties to local property taxes, schools, public safety and infrastructure. Among them are five separate Cypress-Fairbanks ISD propositions, a Harris County judge election and other federal, state and local contests.

Early voting for the November 3, 2026, General and Special Elections runs through Friday, October 30, giving Harris County residents 12 days to vote before Election Day.

Harris County Clerk Teneshia Hudspeth is encouraging residents to review their ballots and choose a convenient time to visit a voting center.

“Early voting gives voters the flexibility to cast their ballots on their own schedules, including weekends, while avoiding potential Election Day crowds,” said Clerk Hudspeth. “We encourage voters to plan ahead, review their ballots, and take advantage of the opportunity to vote early.”

With more than 70 early voting centers operating throughout Harris County, voters are not limited to a polling place in their neighborhood. However, the races and propositions appearing on their ballots depend on where they live.

What's on the November 3, 2026 Ballot for Cypress and West Houston?

The November election includes contests for several major statewide offices, including Texas governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, comptroller and a United States Senate seat. Voters will also consider candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives, Texas Legislature and other judicial and governmental positions.

The names appearing in individual congressional and legislative races depend on each voter's district.

At the county level, residents will help select Harris County's next county judge, an office responsible for leading Commissioners Court and participating in decisions about county budgets, flood control, emergency management and public services.

Some voters will also have commissioner races on their ballots, depending on their precinct.

For residents within Cypress-Fairbanks ISD boundaries, five school district propositions add another substantial set of decisions involving educational funding and property taxes.

Other local contests may appear as well. Harris County's election notice identifies participating entities that include the Harris Central Appraisal District, certain cities, school districts, municipal utility districts and other special districts.

Not every resident is eligible to vote in every local contest. The county's personalized sample ballot lookup allows residents to see which races and propositions apply to their address.

Cypress-Fairbanks ISD Voters Will Decide Five School Funding Propositions

One of the most closely watched local issues is the Cypress-Fairbanks ISD election, which includes a proposed maintenance and operations tax increase and a $1.636 billion bond package.

On August 10, 2026, the CFISD Board of Trustees voted to place five separate propositions before voters.

Proposition A asks voters to approve a higher maintenance and operations tax rate. The district proposes increasing that portion of its property tax rate by 12 cents per $100 of taxable value, from $0.6669 to $0.7869.

CFISD estimates the proposal would generate approximately $103.6 million in additional annual funding, including local tax collections and state funding. The money would support expenses such as employee compensation, instructional programs, classroom resources and daily district operations.

The remaining four propositions involve bond funding for specific categories of capital improvements.

Proposition B, totaling approximately $1.3 billion, would fund repairs and improvements to existing school facilities, safety and security equipment, transportation and infrastructure. Projects include roof replacements, heating and air conditioning systems, fire alarms, emergency generators, school buses and improvements to the Cypress Creek and Jersey Village high school auditoriums.

Proposition C, totaling approximately $256.1 million, would fund instructional technology, including student Chromebooks, teacher computers, classroom displays and equipment for career and technical education programs.

Proposition D would authorize $60.8 million for improvements to existing district athletic stadiums, while Proposition E would authorize approximately $20.1 million for repairs and equipment at existing swimming facilities.

Each proposition will be decided separately.

The distinction between the operating tax proposal and the bond measures is important. Maintenance and operations funding supports everyday expenses, including salaries and instructional programs. Bond funding is restricted to authorized capital expenses and debt-related costs.

How Much Could the CFISD Election Affect Property Taxes?

According to the district's financial projections, the proposed operating tax increase would be partially offset by an anticipated 3-cent reduction in its debt-service tax rate.

If the district's projections hold, the combined change would amount to an increase of 9 cents per $100 of taxable value compared with the prior year's total rate.

CFISD estimates that a home valued at $350,000, with applicable homestead exemptions, would see an annual school property tax increase of approximately $126, or $10.50 per month.

Actual property tax bills vary according to taxable values, exemptions and final adopted rates. Homeowners with qualifying age or disability exemptions may also have additional protections.

Texas law requires school bond propositions to include the statement "THIS IS A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE." CFISD says approval of Propositions B through E is not expected to increase the district's debt-service tax rate, which it projects will decrease from 40 cents to 37 cents per $100 of taxable property value. That projection is separate from the 12-cent maintenance and operations tax rate increase proposed under Proposition A. The district's estimated $126 annual increase for a $350,000 home assumes all five propositions pass and the projected rate changes occur.

Residents can review the district's financial assumptions, individual campus project sheets and proposed spending through the official CFISD 2026 Election website.

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Harris County Judge Election: Why It Matters to Cypress and West Houston

Another major contest is the race for Harris County judge, with Democrat Letitia Plummer and Republican Orlando Sanchez competing to succeed outgoing County Judge Lina Hidalgo.

Plummer is a former Houston City Council member who served in an at-large position. Sanchez previously served as Harris County treasurer and as a Houston City Council member.

The county judge's responsibilities are different from those of a courtroom judge. As the presiding officer of Harris County Commissioners Court, the county judge helps oversee decisions involving county spending, disaster preparedness, public health and other county services.

For residents in unincorporated Cypress and northwest Harris County, those decisions can have consequences close to home.

Harris County government participates in infrastructure planning and public services, while flood control projects are also carried out through the Harris County Flood Control District. Road maintenance, drainage responsibilities and public safety services can vary by jurisdiction.

Commissioners Court includes four county commissioners, each representing a geographic precinct. Commissioner positions in Precincts 2 and 4 are on the November ballot, although those races will appear only for eligible residents of the respective precincts.

For homeowners following road improvements, stormwater drainage concerns or county budget discussions, knowing which officials represent their neighborhood can be as important as recognizing the names at the top of the ballot.

Why Cypress and West Houston Neighbors May Have Different Ballots

A resident in Bridgeland may not have the same ballot as someone living near Highway 6, even though both communities are commonly associated with the Cypress area.

The reason comes down to jurisdictional boundaries.

Congressional districts, Texas House and Senate districts, city limits, school districts and other local governmental boundaries determine which contests appear on a ballot.

A Houston mailing address does not necessarily mean a household is inside Houston city limits. Likewise, a Cypress address does not by itself establish which school district or special district serves a property.

For example, a resident living inside the City of Houston may have a municipal proposition that does not appear on the ballot of someone living in unincorporated Harris County.

The same applies to Cypress-Fairbanks ISD's funding propositions. Only eligible voters who live within the district's boundaries can participate in that election.

This is why checking an address-specific sample ballot is particularly useful in West Houston, where city limits, school attendance zones and other jurisdictional lines do not always follow familiar neighborhood boundaries.

Houston Proposition A: A Public Safety Question for Eligible City Voters

Some West Houston residents will also see the City of Houston's Proposition A, a proposed charter amendment addressing marijuana enforcement and police search warrant practices.

The measure would direct the Houston Police Department to treat certain misdemeanor marijuana possession offenses as its lowest law enforcement priority, with accompanying reporting requirements. It would also prohibit Houston police officers from requesting or executing no-knock search warrants.

Supporters have argued that the measure would change how police resources are allocated and strengthen restrictions on certain police practices. Questions have also been raised about how its provisions would operate alongside state law and existing law enforcement policies.

The proposition would amend Houston's city charter if approved, but it would not independently legalize marijuana under Texas law.

Importantly, Houston's Proposition A is not the same as Cypress-Fairbanks ISD's Proposition A.

The two measures are administered as separate elections and address entirely different issues. Houston's proposition applies to eligible city voters, while the CFISD proposition applies to eligible voters residing within the school district.

The City of Houston has published the proposed charter amendment and official ballot language on its 2026 Charter Amendment Election webpage.

Where Can Cypress and West Houston Residents Vote Early?

Harris County will operate more than 70 early voting centers for the November 3 election, with more than 600 vote centers expected to be available on Election Day.

Residents can use any participating Harris County vote center, regardless of which neighborhood they call home.

That flexibility is useful for commuters who live in Cypress but work in the Energy Corridor, Memorial, downtown Houston or another part of Harris County.

Rather than returning to a designated neighborhood precinct, an eligible Harris County voter can choose a participating county vote center near work, home or another destination.

To locate a voting site, residents can use the official Harris County Vote Center locator, which provides location information and, when available, wait times.

Residents can search for locations near Cypress, Jersey Village, Copperfield, the Highway 6 corridor, Barker Cypress Road, Fry Road and other West Houston neighborhoods.

The county also publishes downloadable voting-center lists. Because polling locations may be updated, residents should verify their preferred location before leaving home.

Early Voting and Election Day Hours

• Early voting begins October 19 and runs through October 30.

• From Monday, October 19, through Saturday, October 24, voting centers are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

• On Sunday, October 25, voting hours are noon to 7 p.m.

• From Monday, October 26, through Friday, October 30, voting centers again operate from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

• Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, with voting centers open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Voters who are already in line when polls close are permitted to vote.

Important 2026 Election Deadlines

The voter registration deadline for the November 3 election was October 5, meaning that deadline has already passed.

The next major deadline is Friday, October 23, the final day for election officials to receive applications for ballots by mail.

Eligible Texans may request mail ballots under certain circumstances, including being age 65 or older on Election Day, having a qualifying disability or illness, expecting to give birth within three weeks before or after Election Day, or meeting other conditions established by state law.

A mail ballot application must be received by the deadline, not simply postmarked that day.

The early voting period ends October 30, followed by Election Day on November 3.

For mailed ballots, the general receipt deadline depends on the postmark and delivery date. Ballots without a qualifying timely postmark generally must arrive by 7 p.m. on Election Day. Certain properly postmarked ballots may qualify for receipt by 5 p.m. November 4, with separate rules for some military and overseas voters.

Additional information is available through VoteTexas.gov.

What Identification Is Required to Vote in Harris County?

Texas recognizes seven forms of acceptable photo identification for in-person voting.

These include a Texas driver's license, Texas Election Identification Certificate, Texas personal identification card, Texas handgun license, U.S. military identification card containing a photograph, U.S. citizenship certificate containing a photograph, and a U.S. passport book or card.

Voters ages 18 through 69 may generally use one of the approved photo IDs if it expired no more than four years before voting. Voters age 70 or older may use an otherwise valid approved photo ID regardless of how long it has been expired.

Residents who do not possess and cannot reasonably obtain one of the approved forms of photo ID may qualify to present an alternative document and complete a Reasonable Impediment Declaration.

Acceptable supporting documents can include a voter registration certificate, qualifying utility bill, bank statement, paycheck or certain government documents.

A voter who has an approved photo ID but simply forgets to bring it may have the option of returning with it or casting a provisional ballot and completing the applicable follow-up requirements.

Texas provides additional information about these circumstances through its official voter identification guidance.

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Can Voters Bring Their Phones or Sample Ballots Inside?

Voters planning to refer to notes on their phones should print them or write them down before going to the polls.

Texas law prohibits the use of wireless communication devices, including cell phones and tablets, inside the room where voting is taking place. Using electronic or mechanical devices to record images or sound is also prohibited within 100 feet of a voting station.

These restrictions are different from the 100-foot electioneering boundary posted outside polling locations.

Voters may bring printed sample ballots or handwritten notes into the voting booth to reference their selections. Harris County asks voters to take those materials with them when they leave.

Accessibility, Curbside Voting and Language Assistance

Harris County provides voting accommodations for residents with disabilities, including curbside voting for eligible individuals who are physically unable to enter a voting center.

An election worker can assist the voter using the county's curbside voting procedures and accessible equipment.

Polling places also provide accessible voting equipment, and voters who need assistance may have options for receiving help under state law.

Residents seeking disability accommodations or language assistance can review the county's voting accessibility resources or contact the Harris County Clerk's Elections Department at 713-755-6965. 

What If Someone Requested a Mail Ballot but Wants to Vote in Person?

Voters who received a mail ballot but decide they would rather vote in person should bring that ballot to a vote center and surrender it.

If the voter no longer has the mail ballot, voting in person may still be possible through a provisional ballot under the applicable Texas Election Code procedures.

Residents planning to hand-deliver a completed mail ballot should note that Harris County has designated 1019 Congress Street in downtown Houston for Election Day hand delivery. Note that only the voter may personally deliver the ballot.

According to the county's announcement, the location will accept hand-delivered mail ballots November 3 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Voters must present valid photo identification.

Completed mail ballots cannot simply be dropped off at any neighborhood early voting center.

Before Heading to the Polls

For Cypress and West Houston residents, a few minutes spent reviewing the ballot beforehand can help make a lengthy election easier to navigate.

The county's online election resources allow residents to check their registration, look up their sample ballot, locate vote centers and review mail voting requirements.

The free Harris Votes app for iOS and Android also provides election information, and residents can follow @HarrisVotes on social media for county updates.

The November 3 election brings together several levels of government on one ballot. The offices and propositions are different, but each involves decisions about how public institutions are led, funded or governed.

For families comparing the CFISD propositions, homeowners following county infrastructure projects and residents interested in who will represent their communities in state and federal government, understanding what's on the ballot is the first step toward making an informed decision.

Stay connected with My Neighborhood News for continued coverage of the November 3 election, Cypress-Fairbanks ISD propositions, Harris County election results and issues affecting Cypress, Jersey Village and West Houston neighborhoods.

By Tiffany Krenek, My Neighborhood News 

Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.

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