Voters Defeat Prop Q in Election That Saw Big Turnout in Austin

🗳️ Prop Q Fails

Proposition Q, a measure to increase property taxes by 20%, failed on Tuesday night. The increase would have raised $110 million to help with the city’s $6.3 billion budget. At 11 p.m., with just 19% of votes in Travis County tallied, Austinites were already overwhelmingly against the proposition 65% to 35%. It was also soundly defeated in the portions of Austin that lie in Hays and Williamson counties. [Travis County Clerk]

• Mayor Kirk Watson called the Prop Q election even earlier, at 9 p.m., saying its failure made it clear that Austinites are losing faith in local government. He said in a statement: “Austin voters made their decision, and they did so clearly. I trust their decision. And I hear them.” [Watson]

📈 Big Voter Turnout in Travis County

Austinites turned out this election. Some polling locations still had roughly one-hour long waits two hours after polls closed to those who weren't already in line at 7 p.m. Early voting numbers foreshadowed a high voter turnout this season – more people participated in early voting than during the area’s last off-year election in 2023. [KUT News]

⭐ 17 Constitutional Amendments Expected To Pass

All 17 Texas constitutional amendments, which include a ban on capital gains taxes and a measure to include language on who can vote in the state in the constitution, are expected to pass. [Austin American-Statesman]

For more on Tuesday's election, listen to the podcast! ⬇️