Turnout low for amendment and school board elections
By BARRY HALVORSON bhalvorson@journal-spectator.com

Less than 100 people in Wharton County had turned out and cast their ballot in the Nov. 6 Constitutional Amendment election through the first four days of voting.

Through Thursday, a total of 27 votes had been cast in Wharton, 26 in El Campo, 15 in Louise and 13 in East Bernard, according to Wharton County Elections Administrator Judy Owens.

Early voting runs weekdays through Nov. 2 at the Wharton County Annex, the El Campo EMS building (Hillje Street entrance) and the Louise ISD Board Room. Voting times are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Wharton and El Campo and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Louise. The early voting location in East Bernard was only open through yesterday.

"We were expecting a low turnout, but not this low," Owens said. "One of the problems I've heard is some people are intimidated by the wording of the propositions and need the state to do a better job of explaining what they are actually voting on this year. "

Through Thursday, a total of 19 votes had been cast in the Louise election and 11 in the Boling election. "In Louise, I think the low early turnout is due in part to the administration building is only open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.," Owens said. "A lot of people there work in El Campo or Wharton and leave home before the polling location opens and get home after it closes. I guess word hasn't reached them they can vote in the election at any of the polling places."

While the L.I.S.D. residents are voting on the district's tax rate, the Boling election features two candidates, Jerry Svatek and Shawn Chilek, vying to fill vacancy created by the resignation of former Trustee Bill Ford. Ford resigned from the board effective June 22.

The Nov. 6 constitutional amendments Texas residents are deciding this year are:

Proposition 1

"The constitutional amendment providing for the continuation of the constitutional appropriation for facilities and other capital items at Angelo State University on a change in the governance of the university."

Proposition 2 "The constitutional amendment providing for the issuance

of $500 million in general obligation bonds to finance educational loans to students and authorizing bond enhancement agreements with respect to general obligation bonds issued for that purpose."

Proposition 3

"The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide that the maximum appraised value of a residence homestead for ad valorem taxation is limited to the lesser of the most recent market value of the residence homestead as determined by the appraisal entity or 110 percent, or a greater percentage, of the appraised value of the residence homestead for the preceding tax year."

Proposition 4

"The constitutional amendment authorizing the issuance of up to $1 billion in bonds payable from the general revenues of the state for maintenance, improvement, repair, and construction projects and for the purchase of needed equipment."

Proposition 5

"The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to permit the voters of a municipality having a population of less than 10,000 to authorize the governing body of the municipality to enter into an agreement with an owner of real property in or adjacent to an area in the municipality that has been approved for funding under certain programs administered by the Texas Department of Agriculture under which the parties agree that all ad valorem taxes imposed on the owner's property may not be increased for the first five tax years after the tax year in which the agreement is entered into."

Proposition 6

"The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to exempt from ad valorem taxation one motor vehicle owned by an individual and used in the course of the owner's occupation or profession and also for personal activities of the owner."

Proposition 7

"The constitutional amendment to allow governmental entities to sell property acquired through eminent domain back to the previous owners at the price the entities paid to acquire the property."

Proposition 8

"The constitutional amendment to clarify certain provisions relating to the making of a home equity loan and use of home equity loan proceeds."

Proposition 9

"The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to exempt all or part of the residence homesteads of certain totally disabled veterans from ad valorem taxation and authorizing a change in the manner of determining the amount of the existing exemption from ad valorem taxation to which a disabled veteran is entitled."

Proposition 10

"The constitutional amendment to abolish the constitutional authority for the office of inspector of hides and animals."

Proposition 11

"The constitutional amendment to require that a record vote be taken by a house of the legislature on final passage of any bill, other than certain local bills, of a resolution proposing or ratifying a constitutional amendment, or of any other nonceremonial resolution, and to provide for public access on the Internet to those record votes."

Proposition 12

"The constitutional amendment providing for the issuance of general obligation bonds by the Texas Transportation Commission in an amount not to exceed $5 billion to provide funding for highway improvement projects."

Proposition 13

"The constitutional amendment authorizing the denial of bail to a person who violates certain court orders or conditions of release in a felony or family violence case."

Proposition 14

"The constitutional amendment permitting a justice or judge who reaches the mandatory retirement age while in office to serve the remainder of the justice's or judge's current term."

Proposition 15

"The constitutional amendment requiring the creation of the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas and authorizing the issuance of up to $3 billion in bonds payable from the general revenues of the state for research in Texas to find the causes of and cures for cancer."

Proposition 16

"The constitutional amendment providing for the issuance of additional general obligation bonds by the Texas Water Development Board in an amount not to exceed $250 million to provide assistance to economically distressed areas."