The May 6th, 2023 election saw two notable propositions on the ballot in Bellville and Austin County. However, both propositions failed to pass and garnered low voter turnout.
The Bellville Independent School District Bond, also known as Proposition A, proposed borrowing $49.5 million to fund construction, renovation, and equipment projects in the district, including building a new junior high school and converting old sites into parking for district facilities. Unfortunately, the proposition was rejected with 630 votes for and 693 votes against, resulting in a margin of just 63 votes. The voter turnout for this proposition was only 11.78%, indicating that the majority of eligible voters did not participate in the election.
Similarly, Austin County ESD No. 1 Prop 1, which proposed charging up to six cents for every $100 of property value, was also rejected with 111 votes for and 190 against, a margin of 79 votes. The voter turnout for this proposition was only 9.23%, again indicating that the majority of eligible voters did not participate in the election.
The results of the election demonstrate the importance of community engagement and participation in the political process. With such low voter turnout, it is clear that many community members did not have their voices heard on these important issues. The rejection of both propositions highlights the need for increased involvement and engagement in future elections to ensure that community members have a say in matters that impact their communities.
