Thanks to work by City Demographer Ryan Robinson, maps are now available reflecting the Nov. 8 city voting on the Mobility Bond (aka Prop. 1). Two in particular – the percent of support for the bond by precinct, and the turnout by precinct – are particularly interesting, especially in juxtaposition. As might be anticipated, support for the proposition was strongest in the central city (183 North to Ben White, 183 East to MoPac), although there was 55-60% support in other precincts citywide. The precincts where it lost were almost all west of MoPac (roughly below 183 North to the Colorado), though there were a few scattered elsewhere. Interestingly, the strongest turnout (above 70%) was also west of MoPac (SH 360 to the river), with turnout more generally in the 40-60% range, and an overall turnout (on Prop. 1) at 55.2%. Voting definitely has consequences, and if central city and Eastside turnout would ever approach Westside turnout – those voters would never lose. See the maps, along with many others, at www.austintexas.gov/page/demographic-maps.
This article appears in December 9 • 2016.
