Texas had an election on Tuesday, and if you voted - congratulations! You're one of the 9% who turned out for the November 2021 election.
Harris county had the most raw votes at 223,421, good for 9% turnout. The highest overall was Glasscock county clocking in at a whopping 33.8% turnout (good for 268 votes) and Starr county trickling in as the lowest with .56% (185 votes).
So what does it all mean? It means that constitutional amendments are not huge turnout drivers in Texas.
Typically these amendments see very low turnout and very high approval rates, typically winning with around 90% of the vote. Progress Texas came out against propositions 3, 4, and 5 this year - and while these passed, they also saw the lowest levels of support, generally 30 points lower than the other proposed amendments.
Here’s how our endorsements compared to the final results:
Proposition 1 - APPROVED
Our endorsement: For
Results: 84% for, 16% against
Authorizes raffles at rodeos, previously prohibited by Texas anti-gambling laws.
Proposition 2 - APPROVED
Our endorsement: For
Results: 63% for, 37% against
Allows counties to issue bonds to improve blighted areas. Cities and towns could do this already.
Proposition 3 - APPROVED
Our endorsement: Against
Results: 62% for, 38% against
Prohibits restrictions on religious gatherings even during a deadly pandemic or other emergency. This is an incredibly dangerous proposal and it’s a shame that it passed. Blanket exemption from rules intended to protect the lives and health of residents is not a First Amendment guarantee.
Proposition 4 - APPROVED
Our endorsement: Against
Results: 59% for, 41% against
Will make it harder for younger, more diverse candidates to become judges in Texas by strengthening requirements. This is a Republican reaction to more Democratic or progressive lawyers beating GOP candidates in recent years in urban counties.
Proposition 5 - APPROVED
Our endorsement: Against
Results: 59% for, 41% against
Gives the State Commission on Judicial Conduct authority over judicial candidates.
Proposition 6 - APPROVED
Our endorsement: For
Results: 88% for, 12% against
Allows residents of nursing or assisted living facilities to designate an essential caregiver who cannot be denied in-person access under any circumstances. It’s a compassionate measure after a year when many elderly people were forced to live in isolation.
Proposition 7 - APPROVED
Our endorsement: For
Results: 87% for, 13% against
Extends homestead tax exemptions to the surviving spouses of disabled individuals who have died, so long as the surviving spouse is 55 or older.
Proposition 8 - APPROVED
Our endorsement: For
Results: 88% for, 12% against
Previously, the exemption was only offered to spouses of military members who died in combat. This proposal extends the benefit to families who have lost a loved one in non-combat situations (such as training exercises).
City of Austin
Proposition A - FAILED
Our endorsement: Against
Results: 31% for, 69% against
Proposed to drastically and permanently increase funding to the Austin Police Department via major cuts to other essential city services, like Fire, EMS, mental health care workers, parks, libraries, and more. Austinites came together and overwhelmingly rejected this measure, favoring comprehensive public safety solutions.
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