Texas ballot news
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| Propositions • | Recall | • Law |
Here you'll find a collection of ballot news stories from Colorado.
Texas ballot measures show low turnout throughout the state
Texas: Texas voters saw 11 ballot measures on November 3, 2009, with topics ranging from eminent domain to education to veterans affairs. Apparently, that didn’t catch the eyes, ears, or lever hands of Texas voters. According to the Secretary of State’s website, no amendment saw more than 8.14% of registered voters in the state of Texas decide on it. The measure with the lowest turnout was Proposition 5, with only 7.85% of registered voters voting on the issue. In Brazoria County, an editorial by TheFacts.com stated: “The Texas Secretary of State’s Office didn’t exactly have the highest of expectations for the Nov. 3 election, predicting overall turnout of between 3 and 4 percent. Voters in Brazoria County are meeting expectations, which in this case isn’t a good thing.”[1][2]
Even before the elections, most Texas newspapers predicted a low voter turnout, as constitutional amendments in the state historically show small numbers. According to Allbusiness.com, in Hidalgo County, Election Administrator Yvonne Ramon stated the low turnout is typical for amendment elections, and the county was “on par” with most counties throughout the state in the early voter returns.[3]
In Angelina County, Election Administrator Thelma Sherman reported during election day that at one point, only 844 people had voted, with the county holding 46,600 registered voters. Sherman stated a frustration with the dismal numbers due to the hard work and money put in to hold the elections. According to Sherman: "It takes as much to put on a small election as it does to put on a big election and with all the electronic equipment and the cost to have staff to work the polling places."[4]
Voting numbers were almost non-existent in Zavala County, as the no proposition hit over the 2% mark. The lowest for the county was Proposition 2, which yielded a mere 1.79% of registered voters.[5]
Texans hope to get top tier universities after amendment passage
AUSTIN, Texas: Among the 11 constitutional amendments that passed in the state of Texas was Proposition 4, an amendment that will now transfer $500 million from a “dormant” existing fund into a new National Research University Fund which will be used to hire faculty members and to turn seven schools into Tier One Universities: University of Texas campuses at Dallas, Arlington, El Paso and San Antonio; Texas Tech University; the University of Houston and the University of North Texas.[6]
According to Bill Hobby, former Lieutenant Governor of the state: "Tonight's passage of Proposition 4 sends this important message: Texans understand that more nationally recognized research universities will help retain Texas-grown talent, recruit top researchers who will generate billions of dollars in economic growth, and create more high-paying, permanent jobs.”
All eleven Texas amendments pass
All eleven proposed constitutional amendments on the November 3, 2009 Texas ballot have been approved.
| Ballot measure | Outcome | Yes % | No % | Precincts Reporting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proposition 1 |  | 495,410(55.07%) | 404,118(44.92%) | 6,078 out of 7,468 |
| Proposition 2 | | 615,583(67.90%) | 290,85(32.09%) | 6,078 out of 7,468 |
| Proposition 3 | | 587,422(64.04%) | 315,614(34.95%) | 6,078 out of 7,468 |
| Proposition 4 | | 503,092(56.14%) | 392,980(43.85%) | 6,078 out of 7,468 |
| Proposition 5 | | 536,265(61.30%) | 338,430(38.69%) | 6,078 out of 7,468 |
| Proposition 6 | | 573,825(65.48%) | 302,454(34.51%) | 6,078 out of 7,468 |
| Proposition 7 | | 652,383(72.80%) | 243,744(27.19%) | 6,078 out of 7,468 |
| Proposition 8 | | 674,778(74.69%) | 228,577(25.30%) | 6,078 out of 7,468 |
| Proposition 9 | | 689,713(76.93%) | 206,728(23.06%) | 6,078 out of 7,468 |
| Proposition 10 | | 649,021(72.98%) | 240,384(27.02%) | 6,078 out of 7,468 |
| Proposition 11 | | 727,646(81.10%) | 169,543(18.89%) | 6,078 out of 7,468 |
Source: Texas Secretary of State Election Night Returns as of 11:20pm EST
Early voting ends October 30th in Texas
Texas: Early voting in the state of Texas ends on October 30, 2009 for the 11 constitutional amendments on this year’s ballot. In Travis County, located in Central Texas, only 1% of registered voters have cast their ballots. In South Texas, Cameron County has also seen a low turnout, with reports calling the numbers “sluggish”.[7][8][9]
As of October 22, 2009, according to the Secretary of State’s website, only 43,965 of the 8,115,885 registered voters had cast ballots, which is 5.4%.[10]
Six states prepare to face off in November 3rd elections
Maine, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Texas, Washington: The clock is ticking - there are only 5 days left until election day. In this off-year election only six states will face off on November 3, 2009. There's a total of 26 propositions on the ballot this November.[11] Earlier this year, Californians voted on six statewide measures, bringing the total number of statewide ballot measures in 2009 to 32 - the lowest number of statewide ballot measures in 20 years.
Review upcoming ballot measures HERE!
Additionally on November 3rd, there will be hundreds of local ballot measures in at least 24 states.
Texas early voting begins Monday
AUSTIN, Texas: Tomorrow Texans will begin voting on 11 proposed constitutional amendments. Early voting takes place October 19 - 30. Texas residents may either vote in person at a polling place or by mail. However, those that miss the early voting period can vote on election day, November 3, 2009.[12]
Polling locations can be found here.
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LRCA | Proposition 1 | Bond issues | To aqcuire open spaces adjacent to military installations | On ballot |
| LRCA | Proposition 2 | Property tax | Provide for the taxation of a residence on basis of value, procedures for ad valorem. | On ballot |
| LRCA | Proposition 3 | Property tax | Providing for uniform standards and procedures for the appraisal of property | On ballot |
| LRCA | Proposition 4 | Education | Funding research universities | On ballot |
| LRCA | Proposition 5 | Property tax | Single board of equalization for two or more adjoining appraisal entities | On ballot |
| LRCA | Proposition 6 | Bond issues | Issue general obligation bonds same or less than authorized | On ballot |
| LRCA | Proposition 7 | War | Allow state militia to hold other civil offices | On ballot |
| LRCA | Proposition 8 | Veterans' affairs | Authorization of state to give money to veterans hospitals. | On ballot |
| LRCA | Proposition 9 | Beach access | Right of access to public beaches | On ballot |
| LRCA | Proposition 10 | Term limits | Terms of members on board of emergency service districts will not exceed four years | On ballot |
| LRCA | Proposition 11 | Eminent domain | Limiting public from private properties | On ballot |
Constitutional amendment forums open across Texas
FORT BEND and TYLER, Texas: Open forums and overviews of the 11 constitutional amendments up for public vote on the November 3, 2009 ballot have been occurring across the state. The elections are near and Texas voters are asking questions as to how each and every amendment would affect them and their daily lives.
In Tyler and Smith County, Texas, Senator Kevin Eltife and Leo Berman spoke at a forum, discussing the proposed amendments and answering residents’ questions. [13]
Elsewhere, on October 16, 2009, Jonathan Saenz, a licensed attorney and Director of Legislative Affairs for Free Market Foundation and Liberty Legal Institute, will discuss the 11 amendments to the Spirit of Freedom Republican Women’s meeting in Fort Bend, Texas.[14]
Buda city council rejects petition
BUDA, Texas: The Buda City Council voted, in a 6-1 decision on September 15, 2009, to reject a petition for referendum that was submitted with almost 800 signatures. The ballot measure would reverse a city council-approved land use change that would allow US Foodservice to establish themselves on the eastern part of the city. The city's attorney stated earlier in July that the decision is not up for referendum. BudaFirst.org remained confident and advanced their intentions for the petition.
As a result, for the time being, the proposed measure will not be placed on the November 3, 2009 ballot. According to the city council, their decision came at the advice of their attorneys, citing the city charter did not allow such referenda. BudaFirst.org member David Patterson stated that the group plans to file a lawsuit against the city, stating: “They want to use taxpayer money to fight us, when our Texas Constitution says we can put it on the ballot.”[15]
College Station attempts to oust camera referendum
COLLEGE STATION, Texas:Local resident Jim Ash spearheaded an effort to gather signatures in order to abolish red light cameras that capture speeding drivers in College Station. Ash gathered enough signatures to put the referendum on the ballot, but now he believes the city government has plans to sabotage his efforts. Ash’s petition states that if the referendum is passed, the red light cameras would then become “unenforceable.” Now, city officials are poised to alter the text of the referendum to allow the program to be re-started in the future.
According to a letter written by Ash to the city manager: “"In a recent radio interview, Mayor Ben White asserted 'the city does not have to take the petition to a vote in November.’ This fact coupled with the city's plans that you disclosed to me in our call today leave me troubled. I believe the city's actions threaten to undermine the foundation of the petition."[16]
Texas citizens file petition against change in land use
BUDA, Texas: Reacting to a recent land use change in what was supposed to be a commercial district, area Buda residents have recently filed a petition for a referendum opposing the City Council's actions. The council voted 5-2 to include in the city's land use plan an industrial designation of 95 acres in the Sunfield Municipal Utility District (MUD). It was originally created to support a 2,700 acre community to include 348 single-family lots, 180 multi-family units and approximately 63 acres of commercial land.[17] If the change goes on as planned, a US Foodservices regional headquarters and distribution center would be located in the MUD.
Opponents of the city plan have pointed out that the area was originally developed to be a commercial area and Carl Urban, a local resident and former Buda Planning and Zoning Commissioner has said that the MUD only signed on with that in mind. He also pointed out that there is already an industrial district with direct routes to major highways, and that for the town's only two access points to the highways to be controlled by an industrial complex would "decimate any hopes for a balanced economy in our town."[17] Council members and representatives from US Foodservices claim that no area in the industrial district would accommodate all that was necessary to have the building, in particular "the ability of trucks to make turns our of where the building would be located." They also added that the facility would generate $2.7 million annually in property taxes and that nearly two hundred jobs would be enacted over the next decade.[18]
Man wants no cameras in small Texas town
COLLEGE STATION, Texas: A man’s petition againts intersection cameras in the city has materialized into 850 signatures, according to him. Jim Ash, an opponent of red-light cameras, celebrated after collecting enough signatures for a November ballot measure.[19]
“We are going to pre-certify it ourselves and compare every signature we have to the voter rolls,” Ash said. “It’s the kind of situation where you have to know exactly where you are before you turn it in.”
In January 2008, the city implemented a program to inform residents about the Cameras Advancing Red Light Enforcement Safety (CARES) initiative. This program includes the installation of these cameras to catch motorists who run red lights. According to the city’s website, these cameras are located at nine intersections.[20]
Ash’s next obstacle is to obtain 20 volunteers to verify all signatures, which he states could take him until July 15, when they would turn the petition over to College Station officials.
Texans to vote on open beaches
AUSTIN, Texas. On their statewide November 2009 ballot, Texans will vote on a proposed amendment to the Texas Constitution that would guarantee beach access for the state's residents.[21]
A Texas statute known as the Open Beaches Act guarantees beach access for the state's residents. It has been in effect for about 50 years. However, Richard Raymond, a Democratic member of the Texas House of Representatives (District 42), advocates elevating the level of protection of that right to the Texas Constitution and sponsored legislation to put a statewide ballot proposition before the state's voters.
Raymond said, "We have one of the best coastal access laws in the country. This takes it to another level. It’s more likely that these beaches will remain public forever."[21]
The Texas House of Representatives voted by 140-1 to put the measure on the November ballot, and the Texas Senate followed suit with a 29-2 vote.[21]
Casino amendment still alive
Democratic state senator Rodney Ellis is leading an effort in the Texas State Legislature to get a 2/3rds vote in the Texas Senate and the Texas House of Representatives to put a constitutional amendment before the state's voters on the Texas 2009 ballot to create up to 13 urban Vegas-style casinos in Texas.[1]
Casino amendment a possibility
Casino companies are lobbying the Texas State Legislature to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot that would allow a dozen resort-style casinos to be built, and also allow slot machines at race tracks and the three recognized Native American tribes in Texas. Competing bills are expected as the Texas legislature convenes, looking for ways to make up the state's growing budget gap.[2]
Texas voters approve $6 billion of new debt
May 13, 2008. Voters in Texas on Saturday, May 9 gave local governments the go-ahead to enter into over $6 billion of new indebtedness. The largest school bond issue was the Dallas Independent School District, where voters approved a $1.35 billion bond package. ...more
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