By Staff Reports
ETX Bell
SMITH COUNTY — Smith County voters joined Texans statewide Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025, in approving most of the 17 proposed constitutional amendments on the ballot. Unofficial results show strong local support for tax relief, education funding, and veterans’ benefits, while school bond and local propositions drew mixed outcomes.
Statewide Amendments
Countywide turnout was 15.12 percent, with 24,101 ballots cast out of 159,440 registered voters.
Among the statewide measures, Proposition 10 — authorizing a temporary property tax exemption for homes destroyed by fire — received the county’s strongest backing, passing with 92.44 percent in favor. Proposition 7, granting a property tax exemption for surviving spouses of veterans who died from service-related conditions, also earned overwhelming support at 90.76 percent.
Proposition 14, which establishes the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, passed with 62.53 percent, while Proposition 3, tightening bail restrictions for certain violent offenders, drew the closest vote at 61.90 percent approval to 38.10 percent opposed.
All 17 amendments passed statewide, mirroring Smith County’s overall results.
Local Elections
Voters in several area school districts also decided local funding measures.
In Arp ISD, Proposition A — a $4.95 million bond to improve instructional facilities and add classrooms at Arp Junior High — passed with 55.36 percent approval. Proposition B, which would have funded a multi-purpose activity center, failed with 55.82 percent opposed.
Troup ISD’s Proposition A, a $22.2 million bond for districtwide renovations and facility upgrades, was defeated, with 56.63 percent voting against the measure.
Whitehouse ISD voters decided a Voter-Approval Tax Rate Election, authorizing the district’s adopted property tax rate of $0.9649 per $100 valuation. The measure passed narrowly, with 50.68 percent for and 49.32 percent against.
In the City of Whitehouse, residents voted on eight proposed amendments to the city charter. Several amendments passed comfortably, while others were narrowly rejected. The propositions addressed updates to city governance and administrative procedures rather than new taxes or spending initiatives.
The East Texas Municipal Utility District’s Proposition A failed, with 66.20 percent of voters opposing the measure.
Voter Turnout
Election officials reported turnout consistent with prior odd-year elections. Of the 24,101 total ballots cast, 10,489 were during early voting, 13,460 on Election Day, and 152 by mail.
See this week’s e-edition for more results and the November 27, 2025, print issue for complete coverage. If you are not getting a weekly e-edition, sign up for your subscription at ETX Bell.com
