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Bonds & Propositions

Petition-backed measure to mandate police staffing will go to Austin voters

A ballot measure that would set a mandatory minimum for police staffing in Austin is on its way to voters. The city clerk on Tuesday certified petition signatures from the group Save Austin Now, paving the way for a November…

Group launches effort to put decriminalizing pot, ban on no-knock warrants on Austin's November ballot

Austin effectively decriminalized marijuana last year. The city also effectively banned no-knock warrants, the controversial police tactic that led to the deaths of Breonna Taylor and Atatiana Jefferson. But those policies are more or less guidelines; they’re not formally enshrined in the city’s charter.…

Austin won't make arrests during first phase of reinstating rules related to homelessness

After voters passed Proposition B on May 1, Austin is reinstating rules that ban homeless encampments on public land, prohibit sitting or lying down in parts of the city, and place a nighttime curfew on panhandling. While those rules go…

Strong-mayor proposition fails spectacularly

In the May 1 election, voters strongly rejected Proposition F, which proposed a radical change to Austin city governance from the Council-manager form of government to a strong mayor with veto powers over actions taken by City Council. Eighty-six percent…

Austin voters approve reinstating bans on camping, resting and panhandling

Lee esta historia en español. Austin has voted to reinstate criminal penalties for behavior related to homelessness. With its passage, Proposition B will restore the city’s previous ban on public encampments, prohibition of resting in certain areas and limitations on…

Prop E approval OKs ranked-choice voting, with legal questions ahead

Austin voters came out in favor of a new system for conducting local contested elections beginning in 2022, though how or if that change will be made appears unclear. Proposition E was approved 87,516 to 63,510 on Saturday, with nearly…

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With Prop C passage, Council can decide how to oversee police oversight office

Austin voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition C Saturday, paving the way for City Council to change who the director of police oversight reports to – an independent body or Council itself. According to the unofficial results, 62.9 percent (96,888 people) voted…

Groups report endorsing, rejecting propositions

The Travis County Democratic Party has endorsed Proposition A on the May 1 ballot, which would give Austin firefighters the authority to require the city to participate in binding arbitration. The party has also urged its members to reject Prop…

Prop H gets support from community leaders pushing 'democracy dollars'

Leaders from a variety of community and political advocacy groups voiced their support Tuesday for Proposition H, the ballot proposal popularly known as “democracy dollars” that is intended to bring public financing into local elections. Members of Austinites for Progressive…

Ranked-choice voting proposal faces legal, legislative questions after May election

There are two questions at play for Proposition E, which would seek to create ranked-choice voting in city elections. One of those questions will be decided by voters in May, while a larger one will likely play out between city…

Mayors, environmental groups oppose strong-mayor plan

Three former Austin mayors and six local environmental organizations have announced their opposition to Proposition F, the charter amendment that would change Austin’s Council-manager form of government to a system that would eliminate the city manager and give the mayor the…

Should mayoral election be moved to presidential years?

When voters cast their votes on the May 1 ballot, they will have a chance to weigh in on the question of whether Austin’s mayor should be elected in November of presidential election years, instead of on a cycle that…

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