Go out and vote!

TYLER-Early voting kicked off Monday morning. Items on the ballot include Tyler District 5 city council sear, a local option beverage election in Winona, a school bond for Lindale ISD and 11 Texas constitutional amendments.

Smith County election officials have been busy since early Monday morning helping citizens vote. But with so many issues being voted on, we decided to highlight a few.

Probably one of the most controversial and reoccuring issues facing voters living within the Winona city limits is Proposition 1. This proposition would legalize the sale of beer, wine and liquor within the Winona city limits for off-premise consumption. As you may recall this proposition was thrown out in May after an investigation revealed that seven illegal votes were cast during the last election.

And just as the early voting polls opened up Monday morning, those for the sale of alcohol in Winona were out in full force.

"I think this is our only opportunity to get new business to the area and to help Winona grow," Cindy Martin with the group Winona Wins said.

Winona's Mayor, Rusty Smith, said this is the city's only chance to stop revenue from going further down the road to cities like Big Sandy.

"The main concerns we hear from those who are against it is it's going to make our town dirty, loitering and traffic problems," Mayor Smith said. "The city council is responsible and will control these things."

Switching gears to another items that is not controversial, but may be confusing. And that is the 11 proposed Texas constitutional amendments.

State Representative Leo Berman cleared up some language about Proposition 2. He told KETK that this proposition has one sole purpose, which is to lower appraised values of homes by eliminating commercial property values when appraising residential property.

Representative Berman said despite the rumors, in no way will Prop.2 increase property taxes. In fact, the legislature couldn't raise property taxes even if they wanted.

"We balanced our budget, we have a small surplus and we're in the black," Representative Berman said. "We don't have to raise property taxes."

Voters can cast ballots at the Election Office inside the Smith County Annex Building, 200 E. Ferguson St. from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday; Monday, Oct. 26 through Wednesday, Oct. 28 and from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29 and Friday Oct. 30.

Voting in Lindale will be held at the Lindale Masonic Lodge, 200 Margaret St. during the same hours and dates. Early voting in Winona will be held at the Winona ISD Administration Building, 605 Wildcat Drive during the same hours and dates. Voting in Gregg County will be held at the Gregg County Courthouse, 101 E. Methvin, Suite 112 during the same hours and dates as well.