Texas voters in largest cities to decide 42 local ballot measures on May 3

By

Nicole Fisher

Ballotpedia is covering 42 ballot measures in nine counties in Texas on May 3. All 42 ballot measures were referred to the ballot by a vote of a local governing board, such as a county board or city council. 

This is an increase in ballot measures compared to the previous even-year May election in Texas in 2024. Every year, Ballotpedia covers local ballot measures in the top 100 largest cities in the U.S., including 13 cities in Texas. These include Arlington, Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas, El Paso, Fort Worth, Garland, Houston, Irving, Laredo, Lubbock, Plano, and San Antonio.

This year, on May 3, there are ballot measures in:

  • Arlington: 12 measures
  • Austin: five measures
  • Corpus Christi: three measures
  • El Paso: one measure
  • Garland: six measures
  • Laredo: four measures
  • Lubbock: one measure
  • Plano: seven measures
  • San Antonio: three measures

Compared to the local Texas elections in previous years, this is the second-largest number of May ballot measures in the largest 13 cities in Texas since 2019, with 2023 having the greatest amount of local May ballot measures. In 2024, there were 39 May ballot measures, and in 2023, there were 47 May ballot measures. This is an increase from previous years, where there were 27 measures in 2022, 16 in 2021, and 16 in 2019.

Out of the 42 measures in 2025, 34 (81%) are bond measures. A bond measure is when a city, county, or school district places a measure on the ballot, asking voters to approve or deny additional proposed spending. Bond measures may be placed on the ballot due to laws that prevent the unit of government from raising taxes or spending beyond a certain level without the approval of voters, as well as laws that require voter approval for the creation of any new public debt. In the May 3 elections in Texas, the largest bond measure is in the Alamo Community College District, with $987 million in general obligation bonds proposed for the construction and renovation of college facilities.

Other types of measures on the May 3 ballot include seven charter amendments and one sales tax measure.