The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

Although there are no constitutional amendments on either of the Primary ballots, the Democratic and Republican Parties are asking voters for a little input on what direction is should take on future platforms.

The Orange County Democratic Party has six referendums on its Primary ballot and each asks voters to either vote "for" or "against" to help provide input to the party so it can decide what platforms or ideas the Democratic Party should represent.

Referenda item 1 focuses on economic security and prosperity and wants to know should the Texas Legislature and the United States Congress pass an economic security and prosperity plan for families that includes higher incomes by raising the state minimum wage to a livable wage, passing the Paycheck Fairness Act to ensure equal pay for equal work, guaranteeing paid family leave to care for a new child or ill loved one, fully funding public neighborhoods schools, and making a debt-free university and community college education a reality for hardworking students?

Referenda item 2 is about fair criminal justice system and wants to know should the Texas Legislature and the United States Congress pass criminal justice reform legislation that ensures equal justice throughout our society without respect to race, socioeconomic status, geographic location, or other factors unrelated to behavior, ensuring as well common sense policies to protect the rights of law enforcement officers, the community, and defendants in the criminal justice system?

For referenda item 3, in regards to climate, wants to know should the Texas Legislature and the United States Congress encourage the transition to renewable, non-polluting energy as a means to slow down climate change and its impact on the planet?

The Voting Rights Act is the focus of Referenda item 4 and wants to know should the United States Congress pass the new Voting Rights Advancement Act to protect all American voters?

Referenda item 5 is a popular topic right now, in regards to carrying a firearm on campus and wants to know should the Texas Legislature allow each public institution of higher education, not only private universities, to opt out of the ability to carry guns on campus?

Referenda item 6 is on comprehensive immigration reform and wants to know should the United States Congress pass a just and fair comprehensive immigration reform solution that includes an earned path to citizenship for law-abiding immigrants and their children, keeps families together, protects DREAMers, and provides workforce solutions for businesses?

The Orange County Republican Party has four propositions on its ballot and each asks voters to either vote "yes" or "no" to provide input to the party.

Proposition No. 1 asks if Texas should replace the property tax system with an alternative other than an income tax and require voter approval to increase the overall tax burden.

Proposition No. 2 asks voters if Texas cities and counties should be required to comply with federal immigration laws or be penalized by loss of state funds.

Proposition No. 3 asks voters if Texas should prohibit governmental entities from collecting dues for labor unions through deductions from public employee paychecks.

Proposition No. 4 asks if Texas and its citizens should strongly assert 10th Amendment Rights guaranteed by the U. S. Constitution which states “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”