Happy Election Day! People need a champion.

☀️ Today's weather: Sunny, with a high of 73.

🎵 Sounds like: "Democracy"

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Today’s newsletter is 965 words — a 3.5-minute read.

It's last call for Texas voters.

The big picture: Polls open from 7am to 7pm today, the final sprint in an election that's already seen nearly 8 million votes cast statewide.

Why it matters: Voters could usher in a major political shift — or reinforce Republicans' decades-long dominance in statewide politics.

State of play: All eyes are on Texas' U.S. Senate race between Democrat James Talarico and Republican Ken Paxton as Democrats nationally seek a net gain of four seats to take control of the chamber.

• Meanwhile, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott is seeking a fourth term against Democrat Gina Hinojosa.

The latest: The final New York Times/Siena poll, released Sunday, showed Talarico ahead of Paxton 50% to 43%.

Reality check: Polls aren't results, and no Democrat has won statewide in Texas since 1994.

Zoom in: Dallas County voters will decide on a property tax hike to fund roughly $103 million a year in homelessness services.

• The city of Dallas is asking residents to approve a $443 million bond package for public safety projects.
• Garland voters are weighing a city tax increase, Mesquite ISD wants a school tax bump, and Irving ISD, Collin County and Wylie have bond packages on the ballot.

By the numbers: Turnout has been high. More than 600,000 Dallas County voters cast ballots during in-person early voting — about 41% of registered voters. That rivals the 2024 presidential election and surpasses the early voting turnout in 2022, the last midterm election.

• Early voting turnout was also high in Collin County (372,000 in-person votes) and Denton County (318,000 votes).

🗳️ If you go: Voters in Dallas, Tarrant and Collin counties can vote at any vote center in their county. Denton County voters must vote at their assigned precinct.

• Bring an approved photo ID. If you're in line by 7pm, you can vote.

Your "I Voted" sticker is proof you did your civic duty. It can also be your meal ticket.

The big picture: Businesses around Dallas are marking Election Day with giveaways and discounts for people who show their "I Voted" stickers.

Zoom in: Here's what we've seen advertised so far.

🧘 Black Swan Yoga has a free class pass.

🍺 Tanstaafl Pub in Arlington is pouring one free drink.

🍕 Cenzo's Pizza & Deli is taking 10% off.

📚 Whose Books is offering 20% off all hardbacks.

🧇 Johnny's World Famous Chicken & Waffles is discounting entrees 15%.

🌯 Marquez Bakery in Arlington is handing out free burritos.

🍩 Krispy Kreme is giving away one free glazed doughnut.

🥯 Lubbies Bagels has 10% off orders.

🌮 Taco y Vino is offering a free order of queso or 50% off tacos.

Of note: Some deals are aimed at helping you get to the polls in the first place.

• Lime is offering two free scooter or e-bike rides to or from polling locations.
• DART, Trinity Metro and Star Transit are also offering free rides.

The U.S. Attorney's Office says federal officials will assist with patrols after a string of three shootings killed four people and injured 13 in Deep Ellum on Sunday. (WFAA)

🏫 Dallas ISD leaders are weighing closing South Dallas' J.J. Rhoads Learning Center and five other schools as part of a facilities review. (DMN)

✈️ A JSX plane arriving from Houston rolled off the runway while landing at Dallas Love Field, prompting a runway closure and flight disruptions. (Fox4)

Dallas voters may hear some beats on their way to the ballot box today.

Driving the news: The national nonprofit DJs at the Polls is sending local DJs to 133 polling places across DFW, per the group.

Why it matters: Their goal is to turn voting into a community celebration.

Zoom in: DJ Jasmine Baylor will spin at Mountain Creek Library 7-11am.

• DJ Sir Gene will be at Harrell Budd Elementary School 3-7pm.
• The group doesn't release its full list of locations in advance for safety reasons, so be open to the possibility of some surprise music.

Zoom out: The nonpartisan initiative focuses on communities that had lower voter turnout and aims to reach young and first-time voters.

• It launched at a single Philadelphia polling location in 2009 and is expanding to about 5,000 sites across 24 states this year.

If the stress of watching election results roll in has you feeling some type of way, consider stepping outside.

The big picture: A new study suggests spending time in nature can fight loneliness — even if you go it alone.

What they did: The study, published this month in The Lancet Regional Health, followed 320 adults experiencing loneliness in Barcelona.

• Half participated in weekly two-hour group outings to parks, gardens and other spaces for nine weeks.
• The rest received recommendations for free, accessible outdoor activities they could do on their own.

What they found: Loneliness scores dropped an average 10.5% after three months and nearly 17% after a year across both groups.

• Group outings were especially effective for participants who started out lonelier or with poorer emotional well-being.

What they're saying: Nature's sights, sounds and smells can help people relax and connect with others, professor Jill Litt, who co-authored the study, told CU Boulder Today.

• As some participants put it: "Nature doesn't judge you."

Our picks:

🇮🇹 Naheed is back after her adventures in Italy and seeing her brother-in-law run the New York Marathon!

🍕 Megan is ordering pizza for election night.

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