Houston voters are clocking in their final hours of early voting today, deciding who will take up the mantle in the Texas Senate and shaping the future of property tax appraisals in Harris County. Facing off for the Senate seat are two Democratic contenders, State Rep. Jarvis Johnson and ER nurse Molly Cook, aiming to finish out the current year's term after Houston Mayor John Whitmire vacated the seat, as the Houston Chronicle reported.

Despite the ultimate duty of standing at the precipice of local governance, these elections are often overshadowed by the looming grandiose of national battles, but the May 4 special election also puts three Harris Central Appraisal District board positions under voter scrutiny for the first time, critical roles that play a part in the determination of property tax bills, as highlighted by the same Chronicle report and irrespective of the voters may also need to turn out again for a May 28 primary runoff between Johnson and Cook before the November face-off, according to a KTRK-TV interview with Harris County Clerk Teneshia Hudspeth.

Sample ballots are available on the Harris County Clerk's website for those wanting a peek before punching their selections. Hudspeth emphasized the proximity of local elections to constituents' daily lives, telling ABC13, "Local elections meet you at your doorstep. You can touch and feel your elected local officials." With the reminder that the next election is barely a voter's breath away on May 28, preceding the significant November presidential showstopper, Harris County's commitment to convenient voting is evident with 25 early-voting sites and 151 vote centers on Election Day, where voters have the luxury of casting their ballot at any location within the county, according to a statement obtained by KTRK-TV.

Today marks the last stand for early voting with polls beckoning voters from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.