The results from Tuesday’s state and local elections are in, and the analysis is simple. Travis County voters are still okay with bonds, which may put them at odds with the rest of the state. Both county bonds passed by double digits, with marginally more support for Proposition 1’s transportation money than Proposition 2’s cash for parks. Even after a massive “no” campaign by local Republicans and conservatives, the Lake Travis and Lago Vista school districts both won voters’ approval for new construction and land acquisition bonds.
Turnout, as predicted with no major races on the ballot, was sluggish, with only 5.3% of registered voters statewide making it to the polls, passing all but three of 10 state constitutional amendments on the ballot. Voter participation was a little stronger in Travis County: 3.6% voted early, and the number swelled to around 8.7% by the close of polls.
Statewide, seven of the 10 constitutional amendments passed, but the big takeaway may be how close most of the votes were. Four of the 10 passed or failed by less than 6 percentage points. For more, see the Newsdesk blog.
Major Travis County Results
Prop. 1 $132.8 million in road bonds: 59%
Prop. 2 $82.1 million in parks bonds: 59%
Lake Travis ISD $158 million in school bonds: 58%
Lago Vista ISD $29.6 million in school bonds: 67%
This article appears in November 11 • 2011.
