Texas 2019 ballot measures

Elections in Texas, 2019

• Primary: No statewide races
• General election: Nov. 5
• Voter registration deadline: Oct. 7
• Early voting: Oct. 21 - Nov. 1
• Absentee voting deadline: Oct. 25

• Online registration: No
• Same-day registration: No
• Voter ID: Photo ID required
• Poll times: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m

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On the ballot: Special state legislative • State ballot measures • Local ballot measures • School boards • Municipal • Recalls • 

2019 Texas Ballot Measures
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In Texas, 10 statewide ballot measures were certified for the ballot on November 5, 2019. Voters approved nine ballot measures and rejected one ballot measure.

HIGHLIGHTS

Before November 5, 2019, the Texas Constitution had been amended 498 times since the current constitution was adopted 143 years ago in 1876. In November 2019, voters approved nine constitutional amendments, increasing the number of times the state constitution had been amended to 507.

Proposition 4 tied with Proposition 1 (2005) and Proposition 2 (2005) for having the narrowest margin of approval in the legislature since at least 1995. Voters approved Proposition 4.

Between the Texas House and Texas Senate, at least 121 votes were needed to pass a constitutional amendment. In Texas, the average number of legislative votes for a constitutional amendment was 164 between 1995 and 2019. Three of 10 constitutional amendments were below the average in 2019—Proposition 4 (122), Proposition 2 (136), and Texas Proposition 6 (161).

On the ballot

See also: 2019 ballot measures

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Proposition 1	Municipal	Allows persons to serve as more than one appointed or elected municipal judge	d
LRCA	Proposition 2	Bonds	Allows the Texas Water Development Board to issue up to $200 million in bonds	a
LRCA	Proposition 3	Taxes	Authorizes temporary property tax exemption for disaster areas	a
LRCA	Proposition 4	Taxes	Prohibits the state from levying an income tax on individuals	a
LRCA	Proposition 5	Budgets	Dedicates revenue from the sales tax on sporting goods to parks, wildlife, and historical agencies	a
LRCA	Proposition 6	Bonds	Authorizes the legislature to increase bonds for the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute	a
LRCA	Proposition 7	Budgets	Increases distributions to the state school fund	a
LRCA	Proposition 8	Budgets	Creates a Flood Infrastructure Fund	a
LRCA	Proposition 9	Taxes	Authorizes property tax exemption for precious metals held in depositories	a
LRCA	Proposition 10	Animals	Allows for transfer of law enforcement animals to handlers or others if in animal's best interest	a

Getting measures on the ballot

Citizens

In Texas, citizens do not have the power to initiate statewide initiatives or referendums. Voters rejected a constitutional amendment to provide for the initiative and referendum process in 1914. As of 2019, the state allowed charter cities to have an initiative process for local ballot measures.

Legislature

The Texas State Legislature can refer statewide ballot measures, in the form of constitutional amendments, to the ballot in odd-numbered years and even-numbered years. However, as the legislature convenes regular sessions in odd-numbered years but not even-numbered years, most amendments have been referred to ballots in odd-numbered years. Between 1995 and 2018, 157 of 159 (99 percent) statewide ballot measures appeared on odd-numbered year ballots.

Texas is one of 16 states that requires a two-thirds vote in each legislative chamber during one legislative session to refer a constitutional amendment to the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 100 votes in the Texas House of Representatives and 21 votes in the Texas Senate, assuming no vacancies.

The 2019 legislative session began on January 8, 2019, and adjourned on May 27, 2019.

2019 proposals

In 2019, 216 constitutional amendments had been filed in the Texas State Legislature. Legislators were permitted to file constitutional amendments through March 8, 2019, unless permission was given to introduce an amendment after the deadline.

• Democrats filed 104 (48.1 percent) of the constitutional amendments.

• Republicans filed 112 (51.9 percent) of the constitutional amendments.

• In the state Senate, 70 (32.4 percent) of the constitutional amendments were filed.

• In the state House, 146 (67.6 percent) of the constitutional amendments were filed.

• Of the Democrats, Rep. Richard Raymond (D-42) filed the most constitutional amendments—10.

• Of the Republicans, three legislators—Sen. Paul Bettencourt (R-7), Sen. Pat Fallon (R-30), and Rep. Steve Toth (R-15)—each filed five constitutional amendments.

Between 2009 and 2017, an average of 187 constitutional amendments were filed during regular legislative sessions. The state legislature approved an average of nine constitutional amendments during regular legislative sessions. Therefore, the average rate of certification during regular legislative sessions was 4.7 percent.

Context of 2018 elections

See also: Texas elections, 2018

In 2019, Republicans controlled both chambers of the state legislature, as well as the governor's office, making Texas a Republican trifecta. At the general election on November 6, 2018, Republicans retained control of the House and Senate but lost seats in both chambers. In the House, Republicans lost 10 seats, reducing the party's seats from 93 to 83. Changes in the state Senate could have had an impact on the prospects of constitutional amendments making the ballot. Republicans held 21 seats in the state Senate in 2018, which was enough to pass a constitutional amendment without support from Democrats. In 2019, Republicans held 19 seats, meaning at least two Democrats were needed to pass a constitutional amendment in the state Senate. In 2017, the last election in Texas featuring constitutional amendments, each of the seven amendments received unanimous support from Senate Democrats. In 2015 and 2017, none of the constitutional amendments were referred to the ballot along partisan lines.

Referral of 2019 constitutional amendments

The following table illustrates the vote requirements for each constitutional amendment certified for the ballot, the votes each amendment received, and how Democrats and Republicans voted on each amendment in each legislative chamber:

Texas Proposition 4: Prohibit State Income Tax on Individuals Amendment				Democrats	Republicans
Senate:	Required: 21	Yes votes: 22 (70.97%)	No votes: 9 (29.03%)	Yes: 3; No: 9	Yes: 19; No: 0
House:	Required: 100	Yes votes: 100 (66.67%)	No votes: 42 (28.00%)	Yes: 20; No: 42	Yes: 80; No: 0
Texas Proposition 9: Precious Metals in Depositories Exempt from Property Tax Amendment				Democrats	Republicans
Senate:	Required: 21	Yes votes: 27 (87.10%)	No votes: 4 (12.90%)	Yes: 12; No: 0	Yes: 15; No: 4
House:	Required: 100	Yes votes: 140 (93.33%)	No votes: 5 (3.33%)	Yes: 60; No: 4	Yes: 80; No: 1
Texas Proposition 8: Flood Infrastructure Fund Amendment				Democrats	Republicans
Senate:	Required: 21	Yes votes: 31 (100.00%)	No votes: 0 (0.00%)	Yes: 12; No: 0	Yes: 19; No: 0
House:	Required: 100	Yes votes: 140 (93.33%)	No votes: 0 (0.00%)	Yes: 65; No: 0	Yes: 75; No: 0
Texas Proposition 2: Water Development Board Bonds Amendment				Democrats	Republicans
Senate:	Required: 21	Yes votes: 22 (70.97%)	No votes: 8 (25.80%)	Yes: 11; No: 0	Yes: 11; No: 8
House:	Required: 100	Yes votes: 114 (76.00%)	No votes: 27 (18.00%)	Yes: 63; No: 0	Yes: 51; No: 27
Texas Proposition 6: Cancer Prevention and Research Institute Bonds Amendment				Democrats	Republicans
Senate:	Required: 21	Yes votes: 31 (100.00%)	No votes: 0 (0.00%)	Yes: 12; No: 0	Yes: 19; No: 0
House:	Required: 100	Yes votes: 130 (86.67%)	No votes: 15 (10.00%)	Yes: 66; No: 0	Yes: 64; No: 15
Texas Proposition 3: Temporary Property Tax Exemption for Disaster Areas Amendment				Democrats	Republicans
Senate:	Required: 21	Yes votes: 31 (100.00%)	No votes: 0 (0.00%)	Yes: 12; No: 0	Yes: 19; No: 0
House:	Required: 100	Yes votes: 144 (96.00%)	No votes: 1 (0.67%)	Yes: 66; No: 0	Yes: 78; No: 1
Texas Proposition 5: Sales Tax on Sporting Goods Dedicated to Parks, Wildlife, and Historical Agencies Amendment				Democrats	Republicans
Senate:	Required: 21	Yes votes: 30 (96.77%)	No votes: 1 (3.23%)	Yes: 11; No: 1	Yes: 19; No: 0
House:	Required: 100	Yes votes: 143 (95.33%)	No votes: 1 (0.67%)	Yes: 66; No: 0	Yes: 77; No: 1

Summary of campaign contributions

See also: Ballot measure campaign finance, 2019

The following chart illustrates how much support and opposition committees had amassed in campaign contributions for each measure on the ballot:

Ballot Measure:	Support contributions:	Opposition contributions:	Outcome:
Texas Proposition 4	$3,460.00	$0.00	a
Texas Proposition 9	$0.00	$0.00	a
Texas Proposition 8	$0.00	$0.00	a
Texas Proposition 2	$0.00	$0.00	a
Texas Proposition 6	$277,684.71	$0.00	a
Texas Proposition 3	$0.00	$0.00	a
Texas Proposition 5	$752,878.72	$0.00	a

Media edorsements

The table below records the endorsements of ballot propositions that were made by Texas media editorial boards.

Media	Prop. 1	Prop. 2	Prop. 3	Prop. 4	Prop. 5	Prop. 6	Prop. 7	Prop. 8	Prop. 9	Prop. 10
Austin American-Statesman	a	a	a	d	a	a	a	a	a	a
The Austin Chronicle	a	a	d	d	a	tc	a	a	d	a
Corpus Christi Caller-Times	a	a	a	d	a	a	a	a	a	a
The Dallas Morning News	a	a	a	d	d	a	a	a	d	a
The Eagle	a	a	a	d	a	a	a	a	a	a
Fort Worth Star-Telegram	a	a	a	a	a	a	a	a	d	a
Houston Chronicle	d	a	a	d	a	a	a	a	a	a
Longview News-Journal	a	a	a	d	a	a	a	a	a	a
San Antonio Express-News	d	a	a	d	a	a	a	a	a	a
Waco Tribune-Herald	a	a	a	d	a	a	a	a	d	a

Historical facts

Measures

See also: List of Texas ballot measures

The following statistics are based on ballot measures between 1995 and 2018 in Texas:

• Ballots featured 159 constitutional amendments.
• An average of 13 measures appeared on odd-year statewide ballots.
• The number of ballot measures on odd-year statewide ballots ranged from 7 to 22.
• Voters approved 91 percent (145 of 159) and rejected 9 percent (14 of 159) of the constitutional amendments.

Legislatively-referred constitutional amendments, 1995-2018
Total number	Approved	Percent approved	Defeated	Percent defeated	Odd-year average	Odd-year median	Odd-year minimum	Odd-year maximum
159	145	91.2%	14	8.8%	13.1	12.5	7	22

In 2019, 216 constitutional amendments had been filed in the Texas State Legislature. Legislators were permitted to file constitutional amendments through March 8, 2019, unless permission was given to introduce an amendment after the deadline. Between 2009 and 2017, an average of 187 constitutional amendments were filed during regular legislative sessions. The state legislature approved an average of nine constitutional amendments during regular legislative sessions. Therefore, the average rate of certification during regular legislative sessions was 4.7 percent. In 2019, 10 of the 216 proposed constitutional amendments were certified for the ballot, meaning the rate of certification was 4.6 percent.

Turnout

Between 1988 and 2018, the average turnout of registered voters in odd-numbered year elections featuring constitutional amendments was 11 percent—39 percentage points lower than the average turnout at general elections in even-numbered years. The lowest turnout for an odd-numbered year election during this period was 5 percent in 2011, when voters decided 10 constitutional amendments. The highest turnout for an odd-numbered year election during this period was 26 percent in 1991, when voters decided 13 constitutional amendments.

Not on the ballot

See also: Proposed ballot measures that were not on a ballot

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Mental and Behavioral Health Research Fund Amendment	Budgets	Creates a Mental and Behavioral Health Research Fund
LRCA	Legacy Fund Amendment	Budgets	Creates a state Legacy Fund for debt, unfunded liabilitites, transportation infrastructure, and education facilitites
LRCA	GROW Fund Amendment	Budgets	Creates the Generate Reoccurring Oil Wealth (GROW) Fund
LRCA	Provide for Daylight Saving Time Referendum Amendment	Time	Allows the legislature to hold a statewide referendum on daylight saving time
LRSS	Year-Round Standard or Daylight Saving Time Measure	Time	Asks voters to select year-round standard time or year-round daylight saving time
LRCA	Power to Invest and Manage Public Funds Amendment	Legislature	Allows legislature to determine who is responsible for investment and management of public funds
LRCA	Disaster Reinvestment Board Bonds Amendment	Bonds	Authorizes disaster reinvestment board to issue up to $750 million in bonds
LRCA	Property Tax Exemption for Surviving Spouse of Military Member Amendment	Taxes	Authorizes property tax exemption for surviving spouses of soliders fatally injured in the line of duty
LRCA	Property Tax Freeze for Surviving Spouse of Disabled Person Amendment	Taxes	Freezes the school property tax for a surving surviving spouses of disabled persons age 55 or older who died

State profile

Demographic data for Texas
	Texas	U.S.
Total population:	27,429,639	316,515,021
Land area (sq mi):	261,232	3,531,905
Race and ethnicity**
White:	74.9%	73.6%
Black/African American:	11.9%	12.6%
Asian:	4.2%	5.1%
Native American:	0.5%	0.8%
Pacific Islander:	0.1%	0.2%
Two or more:	2.5%	3%
Hispanic/Latino:	38.4%	17.1%
Education
High school graduation rate:	81.9%	86.7%
College graduation rate:	27.6%	29.8%
Income
Median household income:	$53,207	$53,889
Persons below poverty level:	19.9%	11.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015) Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Texas. **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.

Presidential voting pattern

See also: Presidential voting trends in Texas

Texas voted Republican in all seven presidential elections between 2000 and 2024.

Pivot Counties (2016)

Ballotpedia identified 206 counties that voted for Donald Trump (R) in 2016 after voting for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012. Collectively, Trump won these Pivot Counties by more than 580,000 votes. Of these 206 counties, one is located in Texas, accounting for 0.5 percent of the total pivot counties.

Pivot Counties (2020)

In 2020, Ballotpedia re-examined the 206 Pivot Counties to view their voting patterns following that year's presidential election. Ballotpedia defined those won by Trump won as Retained Pivot Counties and those won by Joe Biden (D) as Boomerang Pivot Counties. Nationwide, there were 181 Retained Pivot Counties and 25 Boomerang Pivot Counties. Texas had one Retained Pivot County, 0.55 percent of all Retained Pivot Counties.

More Texas coverage on Ballotpedia

• Elections in Texas
• United States congressional delegations from Texas
• Public policy in Texas
• Endorsers in Texas
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• More...

See also

• 2019 ballot measures
• November 5, 2019 ballot measures in Texas
• List of Texas ballot measures
• Texas State Legislature

External links

• Texas Elections Division
• Texas State Legislature