Austin Sees Surge in early Voting Driven by Propositionโฃ Q
AUSTIN,TX – โขAustin is experiencing unusually high early voter turnout,spurred by Proposition Q,a โballot measureโ proposing a property tax increase toโ fund public safety and social services. As of Monday morning, 45,157 residents had already cast their โballots, exceeding the โtotal early vote count from the 2023 election.
Proposition Q asks voters to approve a tax rate increase intended to generateโ $110 โขmillion annually for initiatives focused on public safety and social services. The heightened interest in โคthis election,typically a low-turnout affair for city ballot measures,reflects voterโ concern over city spending and the potentialโ impact of a property tax hike. โฃThe outcome will directly โaffectโฃ Austin โresidents through their tax bills and โขtheโ allocation of city resources.
This year’s early voting numbers considerably โฃsurpass the 39,000+ ballots โฃcast before Election Day in 2023, when voters considered propositions โrelated to police oversight. โWhile current turnout remains lower than the 101,000+ early votes recorded in 2021โ during a contentiousโข election regarding ordinances onโ homelessness,the increase represents a considerable shift in voter engagement.
Early voting data reveals a โขconcentration of โขactivity at polling locationsโฃ west of โขI-35. The Ben Hur Shrine Center in Northwest Austin led all locations with over 4,200 votes cast โฃinโ the first week. The Balcones Woodsโข Shopping Center, the Randall’s at Brodie Lane, and the Austin Oaks Church followed as the busiest sites.
Early voting continues through this week,โ with polls open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Election Day is scheduled for November 4th.Residents can findโฃ detailsโฃ on polling locations and the full text of Proposition Q on the โคCity of Austin’s election website.
