Austin Improv

Early voting starts Monday October 22nd, 7am.

For Early voting locations, click here:
http://www.traviscountyclerk.org/eclerk ... ?code=E.47

For Mobile voting locations, click here:
http://www.traviscountyclerk.org/eclerk ... ?code=E.48

For Election day (November 6th) polling locations, you must go to your registered precinct. To find out where you are registered, click here:
http://www.traviscountytax.org/showVoterNameSearch.do

You can read a sample ballot here (though it includes all districts):
http://www.traviscountyclerk.org/eclerk ... o?code=E.3



In addition to selections for President, Senator, etc... there will also be some big local issues. Central Health and cooperation in the UT Med School is a game changer for Austin. The Charter amendments go straight to the core of how we elect our government. The bonds are a $385M investment in the local community that voters get to decide on. These are big issues and I hope that people stay through to the bottom of the ballot.

For Chronicle Endorsements, click here:
http://www.austinchronicle.com/news/201 ... orsements/
I have not seen the Statesman's endorsements, but I do know they support prop 1 (central health) as well.

CENTRAL HEALTH TAX RATIFICATION ELECTION PROP. 1: Approving the ad valorem tax rate of $0.129 per $100 valuation in Central Health, also known as the Travis County Healthcare District, for the 2013 tax year, a rate that exceeds the district’s rollback tax rate. The proposed ad valorem tax rate exceeds the ad valorem tax rate most recently adopted by the district by $0.05 per $100 valuation; funds will be used for im- proved healthcare in Travis County, including support for a new medical school consistent with the mission of Central Health, a site for a new teaching hospital, trauma services, specialty medicine such as cancer care, community-wide health clinics, training for physicians, nurses and other healthcare professionals, primary care, behavioral and mental healthcare, prevention and wellness programs, and/or to obtain federal matching funds for healthcare services.

CITY OF AUSTIN SPECIAL ELECTION
PROP. 1: Shall the city charter be amended to move the City’s general election date from May to November?
PROP. 2: Shall the city charter be amended to move the City’s general election date from May to November, to provide that
council members serve four-year staggered terms, to provide that council elections occur in even-numbered years, and to limit the mayor and council members to two terms?
PROP. 3: Shall the city charter be amended to provide for the election of council members from 10 geographical single-member districts, with the mayor to be elected from the city at large, and to provide for an independent citizens redistricting commission?
PROP. 4: Shall the city charter be amended to provide for the election of council members from eight geographical single- member districts, with the mayor and two additional council members to be elected from the city at large?
PROP. 5: Shall the city charter be amended to permit the members of the city council and the city council’s appointees to hire and manage their own staffs?
PROP. 6: Shall the city charter be amended to provide that the city council appoint the city attorney?
PROP. 7: Shall the city charter be amended to reduce the number of signatures needed for a citizen initiated ordinance or
referendum?
PROP. 8: Shall the city charter be amended to allow council members to raise political funds for 30 days after an election in
which the council member was elected?
PROP. 9: Shall the city charter be amended to permit the city council to lease parkland to an independent school district for a
purpose that the council has found, by a two-thirds majority, is a park purpose?
PROP. 10: Shall the city charter be amended to provide a civil service system for most city employees who are not already
covered by a state civil service statute?
PROP. 11: Adoption of the emergency medical services personnel civil service law ?
PROP. 12: The issuance of $143,299,000 transportation and mobility improvement bonds and notes and the levy of a tax suffi-
cient to pay for the bonds and notes.
PROP. 13: The issuance of $30,000,000 open space and watershed protection bonds and notes and the levy of a tax sufficient to
pay for the bonds and notes.
PROP. 14: The issuance of $77,680,000 park and recreation improvement bonds and notes and the levy of a tax sufficient to pay
for the bonds and notes.
PROP. 15: The issuance of $78,300,000 housing bonds and notes and the levy of a tax sufficient to pay for the bonds and notes.
PROP. 16: The issuance of $31,079,000 public safety facility improvement bonds and notes and the levy of a tax sufficient to pay
for the bonds and notes.
PROP. 17: The issuance of $11,148,000 health and human services facility improvement bonds and notes and the levy of a tax
sufficient to pay for the bonds and notes.
PROP. 18: The issuance of $13,442,000 library, museum, and cultural arts facility improvement bonds and notes and the levy of a
tax sufficient to pay for the bonds and notes.

Let me know if folks have questions about any of the local propositions - I might be able to give some background on them.

Miggy wrote:Let me know if folks have questions about any of the local propositions - I might be able to give some background on them.

PROP. 8: Shall the city charter be amended to allow council members to raise political funds for 30 days after an election in
which the council member was elected?

Are State and Federal candidates allowed to do this?

Miggy wrote:For Election day (November 6th) polling locations, you must go to your registered precinct. To find out where you are registered, click here:
http://www.traviscountytax.org/showVoterNameSearch.do

Huh -- now I know what site to use if I need to look up a friend's address, I guess.... #owmyprivacy



--
peter rogers @ home | http://hujhax.livejournal.com

The person who does not read is often under the impression that he's being picked on by fate.  A reader knows it's necessary because of the story line.
      -- Roger Ebert, reviewing The Jane Austen Book Club

PROP. 8: Shall the city charter be amended to allow council members to raise political funds for 30 days after an election in
which the council member was elected? [/i]

Are State and Federal candidates allowed to do this?

I'm not an expert on federal elections law, but after a little digging, the answer appears to be no - they are not subject to this limitation. Other local entities do have limitations but of varying length and accompanying restrictions.

This recommendation came up from the citizen charter review commission as a way of ensuring that newly elected council members aren't worrying about or beholden to donations during their term in office. On its face, it's intended to level the playing the field with wealthy candidates but because other limitations aren't in place, it strangely gives further advantage to wealthy candidates that can give themselves loans during the campaign and then retire them in the 30 days post election.

Thanks for being proactive about this. Folks always could use a little nudge.

hujhax wrote:

Miggy wrote:For Election day (November 6th) polling locations, you must go to your registered precinct. To find out where you are registered, click here:
http://www.traviscountytax.org/showVoterNameSearch.do

Huh -- now I know what site to use if I need to look up a friend's address, I guess.... #owmyprivacy

Wow...that is...yeah.

hujhax wrote:

Miggy wrote:For Election day (November 6th) polling locations, you must go to your registered precinct. To find out where you are registered, click here:
http://www.traviscountytax.org/showVoterNameSearch.do

Huh -- now I know what site to use if I need to look up a friend's address, I guess.... #owmyprivacy

Oh… my.

Go Vote! Early Voting numbers are down - so please turn out at *any* voting location today. Polls close at 7pm.

http://www.traviscountyclerk.org/eclerk ... =Elections