Richardson voters face different early-voting rules in Collin, Dallas counties

Richardson voters will weigh a $223.4 million bond package with five propositions, including $132.2 million for streets, along with 50 charter amendments that could change how City Hall works and how council members are paid. The city says the bond program is not expected to raise the current property tax rate, making the biggest local question less about higher taxes than how Richardson chooses to spend on streets, parks, public safety and other long-term needs. If Proposition D passes, City Council compensation would rise by $50 per meeting per member, a change that would immediately affect the cost of city governance.

Early voting for the May 2 Joint and Special Election begins Monday, April 20, and runs through Tuesday, April 28, but the schedule pauses Tuesday, April 21, for the San Jacinto Day holiday. That matters in Richardson because the city stretches across two counties, and the rules are not the same on both sides of the county line. Collin County residents who live in Richardson may vote early only at the Collin County Elections Office in McKinney or at the Methodist Richardson Medical Center Campus for Continuing Care on Campbell Road. Dallas County residents who live in Richardson may vote early at any Dallas County early voting location.

The election was called by Richardson City Council on Feb. 9, after months of public briefings, community feedback and two public hearings on the bond package. The city held bond open houses on April 4 and April 11, and it has also upgraded its bond and charter webpages with additional information for voters. The bond plan is divided into five propositions, with Proposition A carrying the largest share at $132.2 million, or 59.2% of the package, for streets.

The charter side of the ballot is unusually large. Voters will consider 50 proposed amendments after a review process that began with the appointment of an 11-member Charter Review Commission in December 2024. The panel met publicly twice a month from January through May 2025, reviewed all 19 articles of Richardson’s charter and sent recommendations to the council. Richardson first adopted its charter in 1956, has revised it four times since then, most recently in 2015, and must review it at least once every 10 years. Election day is Saturday, May 2, and for many voters in Richardson the practical question is simple: use the right county, the right site and the right date, or risk missing the bond and charter choices that could shape the city for years.