November 2023 Travis County Election: Voter Resource

Ballot Language: The issuance of $233,060,000 of road bonds for the purpose of the construction, maintenance, and operation of macadamized, graveled, or paved roads and turnpikes or in aid thereof, including acquiring land and rights-of-way therefor, road drainage, bike lanes, sidewalks, and shared use paths, and replacement and improvement of road bridges and culverts, and the levying of the tax in payment thereof

Translation: Despite typically flowery ballot language, this proposition is fairly straightforward: Voting in favor of the bond will direct just over $233 million for road projects which are detailed more by the county here. The estimated tax impact of this and Proposition B combined is about $12 per year for a Travis County homeowner with a property valued at $100,000. That figure goes up to $46 per year for a home with a median property value of $379,200, as reported by Nina Hernandez.

Ballot Language: The issuance of  $276,440,000 of bonds for the purposes of constructing and improving county parks and the acquisition of land and interests in land in connection therewith, including the acquisition of open space parkland, and the acquisition of conservation easements for authorized purposes in connection with or for the benefit of county parks, and the levying of the tax in payment thereof

Translation: Much like its sister proposition, Proposition B is pretty clear. Voting in favor of the bond will okay about $276.5 million towards new park acquisition and park improvements. The county has more information on what the money will go towards here. The estimated tax impact of this and Proposition B combined is about $12 per year for a Travis County homeowner with a property valued at $100,000. That figure goes up to $46 per year for a home with a median property value of $379,200, as reported by Nina Hernandez.

Texas Standard: A guide to the 14 propositions on Texas’ ballot

The Texas Tribune: Taxes, state parks, infrastructure: What you need to know about the Nov. 7 constitutional amendments election

Key Dates

• Monday October 23: First day of in-person early voting
  • Check here to see if you are registered to vote
• Friday November 3: Last day of in-person early voting
• Tuesday November 7: Election day

Where do I vote in person? 

In Travis County, registered voters may cast their ballots at any voting location, both during early voting and on election day. You can find a list of those locations and voting times on the website of the Travis County Clerk’s Office. While the election is underway, the clerk’s office also hosts a map that includes wait times at locations.

What do I need to know on voting day?

In order to cast a ballot, residents must be registered to vote, which can be confirmed online. Texans not previously registered can do so online, though that must be done 30 days before the election date and printed applications must be mailed.

In general, voters in Texas must bring photo ID to the polls. Under these rules, a photo ID can be a Texas driver’s license, Texas election identification certificate, Texas personal identification card, Texas handgun license, U.S. military card (with a photo), U.S. citizenship certificate (with a photo), or U.S. passport. Voters aged 18-69 may use a form of ID that is expired, if that expiration date is four years old or less. Voters 70 and older may use IDs that have expired more than four years ago. Registered voters who are not able to obtain a photo ID may vote by signing a Voter’s Declaration of Reasonable Impediment or Difficulty along with providing a non-photo ID that includes their address.

A number of common-sense rules tend to be posted at polling locations. This memo from the Texas director of elections does a good job of running through those rules. In short: firearms, electioneering, collecting signatures on a petition and wireless devices are not allowed within the 100-foot markers at each polling location. Electioneering is actively campaigning for something on the ballot, and that 100-foot perimeter expands to 1,000 feet if you are doing it via amplified sound. Wireless devices include cell phones, cameras, tablets, laptops and sound recorders. However, some exceptions are made for people with disabilities.

How do I decide how to vote?

How you vote is your decision, but there are several ways to get informed about the issues that will be on the ballot. In addition to our coverage of the election, several outlets around town have information on the election. (Note: The Austin Monitor does not endorse any of these endorsements, though we do read them.)

Endorsements (as they become available)

• • The Austin Chronicle
  • Austin-American Statesman Editorial Endorsements

Guides (as they become available)

• • League of Women Voters Austin Area
  • KUT Voter’s Guide
  • The Austin Common Local Elections Guide

Why should I vote?

Austin has a great record when it comes to voter registration; more than 97 percent of Travis County residents are registered to vote. However, we tend to fall short when it comes to local elections.

We generally do OK in presidential elections. In Travis County, the November 2020 election saw turnout just slightly over 71 percent of all registered voters.

But in May 2023, only 10 percent of registered voters in Travis County bothered to vote.
Local elections have the potential to fundamentally change the way Austin operates, and a strong democracy relies on voter participation.