Your opinion matters! March Primary ballot is your voice to the Legislature
Texas Senator Lois Kolkhorst (Senate District 18), 88th Texas Legislature
February 19, 2024 | Austin, TX
Campaign season is in high-gear for the 2024 Primaries in March. Although I am not on the ballot this year, there are many local, state, and federal races that will shape the direction of our state and country, along with a number of propositions giving you the opportunity to voice your opinion on future legislation.
What Are the Propositions for?
In General or Municipal elections, propositions found on the ballot are to pass local bonds or decide constitutional amendments. In a Primary election, the propositions are basically a survey that will serve as a guide for the parties to decide their priorities.
This year, voters in the Republican Primary will see 13 propositions on their ballot. Think of it as an “opinion poll,” not policy referendums. You aren’t voting to make law; rather, merely saying “yes” you agree or “no’ you disagree with the Proposition.
Proposition 3
A great example of why your opinion on these propositions matters is Proposition 3, which reads: “The Texas Legislature should require the use of E-Verify by all employers in Texas to protect jobs for legal workers by preventing the hiring of illegal aliens.”
This proposition comes from Senate Bill 1621, a bill I filed in March during the 88th regular legislative session. SB 1621 would have required all state contractors, political subdivisions of this state, and private employers to participate in the federal electronic verification of employment authorization program, or E-verify. I believe this legislation is a great step in curbing the loss of jobs for Texans to illegal aliens in our state.
Unfortunately, after being heard in Committee the bill languished until a vote was taken in early May. By that time it was too late to get it onto the Senate floor. With a positive response by voters on this Primary ballot, the Texas legislature will see the importance and we will be able to move it through and become law after the 89th session in 2025.
Other Propositions
Additional propositions on the Republican Primary ballot are listed here. A “yes” vote is agreeing with the statement; a vote “no” is disagreeing with it.
Republican Proposition 1: Texas should eliminate all property taxes without increasing Texans’ overall tax burden.
Republican Proposition 2: Texas should create a Border Protection Unit, and deploy additional state law enforcement and military forces to seal the border, to use physical force to prevent illegal entry and trafficking, and to deport illegal aliens to Mexico or to their nations of origin.
Republican Proposition 4: The Texas Legislature should end all subsidies and public services, including in-state college tuition and enrollment in public schools, for illegal aliens.
Republican Proposition 5: Texas urges the United States Congress not to grant any form of amnesty or a pathway to legalization for illegal aliens.
Republican Proposition 6: The Texas Legislature should prohibit the deployment of the Texas National Guard to a foreign conflict unless Congress first formally declares war.
Republican Proposition 7: The Texas Legislature should establish authority within the Texas State Comptroller’s office to administer access to gold and silver through the Texas Bullion Depository for use as legal tender.
Republican Proposition 8: The State of Texas should ensure that Texans are free to give or to withhold consent for any vaccine without coercion.
Republican Proposition 9: The Republican Party of Texas should restrict voting in the Republican primary to only registered Republicans.
Republican Proposition 10: The Texas Constitution should be amended to restore authority to the Texas Attorney General to prosecute election crimes.
Republican Proposition 11: Texas parents and guardians should have the right to select schools, whether public or private, for their children, and the funding should follow the student.
Republican Proposition 12: The Texas Constitution should be amended to require proof of citizenship before any individual can be registered to vote.
Republican Proposition 13: Texas should ban the sale of Texas land to citizens, governments, and entities from China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia.
I encourage you all to take time to vote in this Primary, and feel free to share this information with friends and family if you choose.
Pay special attention to your local and state elections. Leadership matters and your vote DOES count!
Early voting begins February 20 and Election Day is March 5. Any race in which a candidate does not receive >50% of the vote will require a runoff to be held May 28, 2024.
Looking forward to seeing YOUR opinions on the future of Texas! Until then, thank you for the honor of being your voice in the Texas Senate.
For Texas,
Lois Kolkhorst