By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
Voting in the Nov. 2 statewide constitutional amendment election was slow here, Val Verde County Clerk Generosa “Janie” Ramon-Gracia said.
Val Verde County voters agreed with their counterparts across the Lone Star State and passed all eight of the proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution.
“It’s disappointing because we try to do so much, but unfortunately I know a lot of people feel they’re not local elections, and they’re not directly affected by these types of elections, but eventually it trickles down. These are things the Legislature and the state will be using to make decisions that will affect all of us,” Ramon said.
Ramon noted that of about 28,000 registered voters in the county, less than 1,000 cast their ballots in the constitutional amendment election.
“And that’s really unfortunate,” Ramon said.
“The good thing was, we got to practice on our new voting machines, and the majority of people seemed to like them. Of course, there were one or two comments from people who didn’t like them, and some people don’t like change, but for the most part, people seemed happy that the machines made it more quick and easy to vote,” Ramon added.
On Proposition 1, which would allow charitable raffles at Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association or Women’s Professional Rodeo Association events, a total of 982 Val Verde County voters cast their ballots, Ramon said.
Of the 982 total ballots cast, 799 voted in favor of the proposition, with 183 voting against, according to vote tallies Ramon released after local ballots were counted on election night. Statewide, 1,242,625 voters cast ballots in favor of the amendment, with 239,783 voting against.
A total of 983 Val Verde County voters cast ballots on Proposition 2, which would allow counties to issues bonds or notes for transportation and infrastructure in undeveloped areas. Of that total, 560 voted in favor of the measure, with 423 voting against.
Statewide, Proposition 2 passed with a total of 931,453 votes in favor and 544,834 votes against.
Local and state voters also gave the thumbs up to Proposition 3, a measure to ban the state from prohibiting or limiting religious services.
In Val Verde County, 986 total ballots were cast in Proposition 3, with 716 voting in favor of the amendment and 270 voting against. Statewide, 925,447 voters approved the measure and 557,093 voted against it.
Proposition 4 asked voters to consider increasing the number of years of experience practicing law in Texas for candidates for the Texas Supreme Court, the Court of Criminal Appeals or a Texas court of appeals. It also proposed an increase in the number of years of Texas experience required for district judge candidates.
Ramon said a total of 976 voters cast ballots for this amendment locally, with 626 voting in favor and 350 voting against. Statewide, a total of 845,030 voters favored the proposition, with a total of 592,585 voting against it.
Proposition 5 asked voters to consider allowing the State Commission on Judicial Conduct oversight of candidates running for judicial office.
In Val Verde County, Ramon said a total of 981 voters cast ballots for this proposition, with a total of 641 voting for the amendment, and a total of 340 voting against it. Statewide, a total of 852,336 voted in favor, and a total of 586,686 voted against it.
Proposition 6 asked voters if they favored allowing residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities to designate an “essential caregiver” who cannot be denied the right to visit the resident.
In Val Verde County, a total of 987 persons cast ballots in this proposition, with a total of 873 voting in favor, and a total of 114 voting against. Statewide, 1,293,922 persons voted in favor of the amendment, with a total of 178,665 voting against.
Proposition 7 asked voters to consider limiting school district property taxes incurred by the surviving spouse of a person with disabilities who is older than 65 and who has died.
Ramon said in Val Verde County, a total of 988 persons cast ballots in this proposition, with a total of 894 voting in favor of the amendment, and a total of 94 voting against. Statewide, a total of 1,285,384 persons voted in favor of the amendment, with a total of 190,109 voting against it.
Proposition 8 expanded eligibility for the residential homestead exemptions to include spouses of military members killed in the line of duty.
In Val Verde County, a total of 987 persons cast ballots in this proposition, with a total of 893 voting in favor, and a total of 94 voting against. Statewide, 1,291,920 persons voted in favor of the amendment, with 180,179 voting against.
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