Voter guide: San Antonio area elections 2025

• Several school districts are also holding board and bond elections.

Get ready to vote

Before you vote: The Bexar County Elections Department website allows you to check your voter registration status.

• It will then provide you with an individualized sample ballot, based on the address where you're registered, showing races you can vote on.

How to vote: Find early voting locations, open April 22–29, online here.

• Find Election Day polling locations, open 7am–7pm May 3, online here.

Plus: April 22 is also the last day to apply for a ballot by mail.

San Antonio mayor

The mayoral election will be the first in 16 years without an incumbent on the ballot.

Why it matters: The city will have a new mayor during a critical time, when officials are looking to gain public support for a new downtown Spurs arena that could be surrounded by a sports and entertainment district.

State of play: San Antonio's next mayor will serve a four-year term after voters approved increasing term length from two years.

The big picture: The contest is between longtime City Council members and City Hall outsiders who have strong campaign war chests and endorsement ties.

27 candidates are on the ballot, but eight are standing out for either their fundraising or name recognition:

Rolando Pablos: The former Texas secretary of state has also served as a senior adviser to Gov. Greg Abbott.

Manny Pelaez: The District 8 council member representing the Northwest Side focuses on economic and business growth, and domestic violence prevention. He is an outspoken official who has rankled progressives.

Adriana Rocha Garcia: The District 4 council member from the Southwest Side is a marketing professor who has been vocal about the lack of access to health care resources in Hispanic neighborhoods.

Gina Ortiz Jones: The former Air Force undersecretary was twice the Democratic nominee for the 23rd Congressional District.

Clayton Perry: The former District 10 council member is a conservative whose council career was cut short after he faced charges in connection with drunken driving and a hit-and-run crash. He often focused on infrastructure improvements and fiscal conservatism.

John Courage: The District 9 council member representing the North Side is a longtime Democrat known for his ability to win in a conservative-leaning district. He is often focused on basic infrastructure needs.

Beto Altamirano: A tech entrepreneur whose company developed the city's 311 app. He formerly served on the board of Port San Antonio and has worked with the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization.

Melissa Cabello Havrda: The District 6 council member representing the Far West Side straddles the divide as a pro-business official who also advocates for more liberal priorities like using public funds for abortion travel.

Go deeper: Everyone who filed to be San Antonio's next mayor

Go deeper: What to watch in San Antonio's open mayoral election

Go deeper: San Antonio mayoral candidates speak on a new Spurs arena

San Antonio City Council

Nearly half the San Antonio City Council will be made up of fresh faces by the summer.

Why it matters: A new generation of council members will help shape a range of transformative city plans.

State of play: Four out of 10 City Council districts on the May 3 ballot will not have an incumbent, and there's at least one other competitive council race.

How it works: Voters can only cast a ballot for a candidate running in their district. To find your City Council district, enter your address online.

What we're watching: The top races to watch will be in districts 1, 4, 6, 8 and 9.

• District 1 has an incumbent with nine challengers, the most of any incumbent. Districts 4, 6, 8 and 9 have no incumbents.

Go deeper: San Antonio City Council District 1 election guide

Go deeper: Why 2025 San Antonio City Council elections are pivotal

Go deeper: Open races in the San Antonio City Council 2025 election

Alamo Colleges District bond

Alamo Colleges District is asking voters to approve a $987 million bond.

Why it matters: The community college district has experienced enrollment growth in recent years that sets it apart from others across the country.

Flashback: ACD said its fall enrollment last year reached more than 77,000 students across its five campuses, nearly a 14% jump over the prior year and an all-time high.

By the numbers: The district expects enrollment to reach 100,000 by 2030.

Zoom in: If approved, about $535 million of the bond would go toward new and expanded programs to prepare students for in-demand jobs.

• Another $247 million would go toward infrastructure.

There will be no tax rate increase.

East Central ISD bond

East Central ISD is one of just a handful of San Antonio area school districts experiencing growth in enrollment.

Why it matters: The district is pitching voters on a bond to build a new high school and two new elementary schools. Voters turned down a bond proposal last fall.

State of play: ECISD expects its enrollment to more than double from 2023 to 2033, reaching over 25,000 students.

By the numbers: This year's bond totals a little more than $309 million.

• A portion of the school tax rate could increase by up to 8 cents in 2027, per ECISD. The district estimates that for a home valued at $280,000 with a homestead exemption, the annual increase would be $157 per year.

Flashback: Last year's rejected bond included three proposals totaling over $347 million. It would have been accompanied by a tax increase of 13 cents, per the SA Report.

School board races

Several San Antonio area school districts will hold board races on May 3:

• Northside ISD
• San Antonio ISD
• Alamo Heights ISD
• Medina Valley ISD
• Southwest ISD
• Judson ISD
• Comal ISD

Worthy of your time: SA Report: What to know about 7 school board races