November 2024 Austin and Travis County Election: Voter Resource

Overview: While you won’t see any charter amendments on this year’s ballot, we thought it was worth explaining why. Though Council approved 13 amendments to the city’s governing document for this November’s ballot, the timing of a subsequent court ruling essentially reversed that action. The court found that the notice for Council’s pubic hearing about the amendments was insufficient and, because Council had waited so long to approve the amendments, there simply wasn’t time to include them in this election. Whether they will appear on a future ballot remains a mystery for now, but here’s our coverage of what went down.

Related Articles: 

Judge’s order halts Nov. 5 charter election

Save Our Springs Alliance files another lawsuit against City Council over Open Meetings Act

Council formally authorizes November election with 13 proposed charter amendments

Overview: Though technically Austin’s mayor does not have much more power than other City Council members, it is the only position elected by the entire city, which means there is a lot more attention on the office. This year, after serving a truncated two-year term, incumbent Kirk Watson faces off against four challengers.

Related Articles: 

All five mayoral candidates take the stage at forum

Watson collects the most endorsements among mayoral candidates

Overview: District 2, which is historically one of the Austin’s most underserved, is comprised of neighborhoods like Del Valle, Dove Springs, Easton Park and Goodnight Ranch and includes Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and Circuit of the Americas. This year, incumbent Vanessa Fuentes faces off against just one challenger.

Related Articles: (the Austin Monitor candidates’ overview set to publish before in-person early voting begins)

Overview: Northeast Austin’s District 4 reaches east to west from Lamar and US 183 to Cameron Road and is bordered by 51st Street to the south and Braker Lane to the north. This year, incumbent Chito Vela has four challengers for his seat.

Related Articles: (the Austin Monitor candidates’ overview set to publish before in-person early voting begins)

Overview: District 6 is arguably Austin’s most far-flung district, and the only to include parts of Williamson County as well as the Anderson Mill, River Place, Avery Ranch, Riata and Robinson Ranch neighborhoods. The Northwest district is also the only to never re-elect a City Council member. This go-around, incumbent Mackenzie Kelly faces one challenger.

Related Articles: (the Austin Monitor candidates’ overview set to publish before in-person early voting begins)

Overview:  District 7 encompasses neighborhoods a like Crestview, Allandale and Brentwood neighborhoods in its southern geography, as well as Gracywoods, Milwood and Preston Oaks neighborhoods. It also, significantly, is home to the Domain and Gateway developments. This year is the first that incumbent Leslie Pool will not be running and, instead, we have a crowded field of seven candidates.

Related Articles: (the Austin Monitor candidates’ overview set to publish before in-person early voting begins)

Overview: District 10, which is home to West Austin neighborhoods like Tarrytown, Northwest Hills and Bryker Woods, is also one of the city’s most politically active. The district is (roughly) bounded by MoPac Boulevard on east, Lake Austin on the south, U.S. 183 on the north, and the boundary with District 6 on the west. Even though incumbent Alison Alter is not seeking re-election, this race includes only three candidates vying for the seat.

Related Articles: (the Austin Monitor candidates’ overview set to publish before in-person early voting begins)

Overview: As usual, we’ve kept our eyes on the campaign finance side of things for the City Council races. Below is coverage from before and after the candidates’ races started in earnest. This year features a bonus ethics complaint and lawsuit!

Related Articles: 

In an unusual hearing, Ethics Commission advances complaints against Greco and Watson to next phase

Mayoral candidate Doug Greco sues city to overturn campaign finance rule

Ethics Commission complaints allege Mayor Watson and challenger Doug Greco violated campaign finance laws

Ethics complaint alleges mayoral candidates received too much money from outside the city

Who’s raising money? Campaign finance reports show some surprises

Overview:

In order to reduce a $119 million deficit to $78 million, AISD trustees have approved a tax rate election. If approved, the district has said the money will go towards additional support positions and increased salaries for teachers and staff. District officials have calculated that the average homeowner will pay $412 more annually, or $34 more a month, if the rate increase is approved.

Related Articles: 

Austin ISD is asking voters to approve a new tax rate to help fund pay raises, reduce deficit

Overview:  Travis County has also proposed a tax rate election. This one, if approved, would raise an estimated $75 million for improved childcare throughout the county. If approved, the money would go towards daycare incentives, after- and summer- school programming, and gaps in state subsidies. Travis County officials estimate that the tax increase would mean about $126 more a year, or $10,50 more per month, for the average county homestead.

Related Articles: 

County commissioners approve tax rate election to raise $75M for child care

Key Dates

• October 21: First day of in-person early voting
  • Check here to see if you are registered to vote
• November 1: Last day of in-person early voting
• November 5: 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 (coming soon)
• The Austin-American Statesman (coming soon)
• Austin Chamber of Commerce (coming soon)

Guides (as they become available)

• League of Women Voters Austin Area Voters Guide (coming soon)

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 (like this one.) In Travis County, the November 2020 election saw turnout just slightly over 71 percent of all registered voters.

But in the last general election, which took place in November 2023, only 16.38 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.