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(Emma Freer)
The Texas Army National Guard dispatched troops to the state Capitol in June amid protests over the death of George Floyd.
The Texas Army National Guard said Monday that it had been ordered by Gov. Greg Abbott to dispatch 1,000 troops to five major cities across the state, including Austin, in connection with the election.
<p>Troops could be deployed to Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio as soon as this weekend, <a href="https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/politics/article/Texas-Guard-Abbott-to-order-1-000-troops-to-15676005.php" target="_blank">the San Antonio Express News reported</a>.</p><p>"The Texas Military Department was activated to provide additional support to the Department of Public Safety in the summer of 2020," Maj. Gen. Tracy R. Norris, the Adjutant General of Texas, said in a statement emailed to Austonia. "Texas Service Members continue to support DPS in this capacity, guarding historical landmarks such as the Alamo and the State Capitol. To be clear, there has been no request nor any plan to provide any type of support at any polling location in Texas."</p><p>Austin Mayor Steve Adler was not immediately available for comment. </p><p>Local police and city leaders <a href="https://austonia.com/austin-protest-election-week" target="_self">said earlier this month</a> that they are preparing for November protests.<br/></p><p>"The Austin Police Department will plan and prepare for any large protest or civil unrest events related to the upcoming elections," spokesperson Tara Long said in an email to Austonia. "The goal of such preparations is to ensure the safety of the community, while protecting the rights of people to peacefully exercise their First Amendment rights." </p><p>Austinites marched through the city on the day after the November 2016 election to protest Donald Trump's victory in spite of the fact that Hillary Clinton won the popular vote. And tens of thousands descended on downtown Austin in January 2017, on the day after Trump's inauguration, in solidarity with the Women's March on Washington. </p><p>More recently, Austinites have protested police violence and the death of George Floyd. Although most of the protests have been peaceful, one in July ended in the shooting death of <a href="https://austonia.com/austin-protests-garrett-foster" target="_self">armed demonstrator Garrett Foster</a>. </p><p>Some attendees at a memorial for Foster showed up heavily armed, including members of the Proud Boys militia, a right-wing extremist group. </p><p>Texas Guard members were deployed to the state Capitol, as well as other locations, during these protests. </p><p>More on Election Day:</p>
<h2><a href="https://austonia.com/austin-protest-election-week" target="_self">After a summer of tension and protest, Austin braces for election-week unrest</a></h2>
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDUwNzk5NC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1OTc3NDY4OH0.8rP6yoBk8LNhm3XPgxxObyB41BOui_21IloCwCgO-ao/img.jpg?width=980" id="e0e16" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="1cdd4d2a30beeddd8135678ca4ab5e4c" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />After a summer of tension and protest, Austin braces for election-week unrest(Shutterstock)
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(Bob Daemmrich)
More than 43% of registered Travis County residents voted early in person or had their mail-in ballots received between Oct. 13 and Thursday, with eight more days to go before the early voting period ends on Oct. 30.
<p>Texas Gov. Greg Abbott extended the early voting period by six days in July, due to the pandemic.</p><p>A record-breaking 97% of eligible Travis County residents are registered to vote this election, according to the Travis County Tax Assessor-Collector and Voter Registrar.</p><div class="rm-embed embed-media"><iframe frameborder="0" height="371" scrolling="no" seamless="" src="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vQPCgZ2llVxj8zUeaUWJwqww5sBVUXIpHTgT6Ir4ihbSaBAq-TA1lcpQbps7ZRuhRs8u0egrmeqFhNm/pubchart?oid=1949030000&format=interactive" width="600"></iframe></div><p>So far, the highest turnout this early voting period was last Friday, when nearly 41,265 people turned out to vote in person.</p><div class="rm-embed embed-media"><iframe frameborder="0" height="371" scrolling="no" seamless="" src="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vQPCgZ2llVxj8zUeaUWJwqww5sBVUXIpHTgT6Ir4ihbSaBAq-TA1lcpQbps7ZRuhRs8u0egrmeqFhNm/pubchart?oid=1791081779&format=interactive" width="600"></iframe></div><p>The bulk—nearly 86%—of early votes cast this election have been in-person. The remainder are mostly mail-in ballots, which Travis County Clerk Dana DeBeauvoir said are mostly requested by residents 65 years of age and older.</p><p>A very small number of early votes—434, or less than 1%—have come through limited ballots, which are intended for registered voters who have moved recently and are not registered in their new county of residence in time for the election.</p><div class="rm-embed embed-media"><iframe frameborder="0" height="371" scrolling="no" seamless="" src="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vQPCgZ2llVxj8zUeaUWJwqww5sBVUXIpHTgT6Ir4ihbSaBAq-TA1lcpQbps7ZRuhRs8u0egrmeqFhNm/pubchart?oid=974654508&format=interactive" width="600"></iframe></div><p>As of Thursday evening, 370,970 people had voted early—either in person or by sending in their mail-in ballot—in Travis County. During the first 10 days of early voting in the 2016 presidential election, 297,357 people had voted; in 2012, 177,071 had.</p><div class="rm-embed embed-media"><iframe frameborder="0" height="371" scrolling="no" seamless="" src="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vQPCgZ2llVxj8zUeaUWJwqww5sBVUXIpHTgT6Ir4ihbSaBAq-TA1lcpQbps7ZRuhRs8u0egrmeqFhNm/pubchart?oid=1310653569&format=interactive" width="600"></iframe></div><p>During the 2016 presidential election, 40.8% of registered Travis County voters cast their ballots in the first 10 days of the early voting period and 51% voted early overall, according to the Travis County Clerk's office. In 2012, 27.9% of registered Travis County voters cast their ballots in the first 10 days of the early voting period and just under 38% did overall.</p>
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(Bob Daemmrich/Austonia)
Travis County residents stand in line to vote on Tuesday, Oct. 13.
Nearly 200,000 Travis County residents have voted early in person since the polls opened on Oct. 13. With 12 days left before the early voting period ends on Oct. 30, and photos circulating on social media of long lines, Austonia has ranked the 37 local polling places by popularity.
<p><br/></p><div class="rm-embed embed-media"><iframe frameborder="0" height="680" scrolling="no" seamless="" src="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vQhzGsHb9NoAcb6jAqfrHF8ZgpkJ8J0s47wqw-uY6FXWogeaRCclucK7fBGyrE3lAM5hKZoBHkRMolb/pubchart?oid=66413591&format=interactive" width="387"></iframe></div><p>The first four days of early voting saw successively higher turnout—growing from 35,873 on Tuesday to 41,265 on Friday—with a dropoff over the weekend, according to the Travis County Clerk's Office.<br/></p><p>As of lunchtime Monday, more than 13,000 people had voted early.</p><p>Six days into the early voting period for the 2016 general election, 180,433 Travis County residents had voted early in person.<br/></p><p>Voter turnout this election is already breaking local records. </p><p>The Travis County Clerk's Office reported 41,265 people voted early in person on Friday, a new local record.</p><p>Additionally, Travis County Clerk Dana DeBeauvoir said last week that her office had already received more than 78,000 mail-in ballot applications and expects that number to grow to around 100,000 by the Oct. 29 deadline. In comparison, her office sent out only 27,000 mail-in ballots ahead of the 2016 general election.</p><p>As of Sunday, DeBeauvoir's office had received 35,696 mail-in ballots for tallying.</p><p>In other record-setting news, more than 850,000 Travis County residents—of 97% of eligible voters—registered by the state's Oct. 5 deadline, according to the Travis County Tax Assessor-Collector and Voter Registrar Bruce Elfant. </p><p>Around 78% of voting age Texans were registered to vote during the 2016 general election, <a href="https://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/historical/70-92.shtml" target="_blank">according to the Texas Secretary of State's office</a>. Of those, nearly 60% of registered voters turned out.</p><p>Polling places are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays. </p><div class="rm-embed embed-media"><iframe height="480" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=17x85RnH1fkaaaH7GW091vVUYKsYOwKsq" width="640"></iframe></div><p>The following six sites will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 28; Thursday, Oct. 29; and Friday, Oct. 30:<br/></p><ul class="ee-ul"><li>Ben Hur Shrine Center</li><li>Millennium Youth Complex</li><li>PfISD Rock Gym</li><li>South Park Meadows, Suite 400</li><li>South Park Meadows, Suite 500</li><li>Austin Central Library</li></ul><p>Residents can find wait time estimates for each location <a href="https://countyclerk.traviscountytx.gov/elections/wait-time-map.html" target="_blank">here</a>, whether they are registered to vote <a href="https://www.votetravis.com/vexpress/display.do" target="_blank">here</a>, voter identification requirements in Texas <a href="https://countyclerk.traviscountytx.gov/elections/new-voter-id-requirements-for-texas-voters.html" target="_blank">here</a>, their personal ballot <a href="https://countyclerk.traviscountytx.gov/elections/current-election/what-s-on-the-ballot.html" target="_blank">here</a> and some races to watch <a href="https://austonia.com/travis-county-early-voting-2020" target="_self">here</a>.</p><p>Many local businesses are also encouraging voting by offering specials—<a href="https://austonia.com/early-voting-rewards/paprika-atx-one-free-carnitas-taco" target="_self">from a free slice of pizza to a discounted pint</a>—to those who bring in their "I voted" or "Yo voté" sticker. </p>
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(Emma Freer/Austonia)
President Donald Trump and his supporters have recently adopted a stance on an issue critical to many Austinies: local land-use regulations, or zoning laws.
<p>Zoning determines how land can be used throughout a city, including what can be built, where it can be built and how much of it can be built. </p><p>On Aug. 12, <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1293517514798960640" target="_blank">Trump tweeted</a>: "The 'suburban housewife' will be voting for me. They want safety & are thrilled that I ended the long running program where low income housing would invade their neighborhood."</p><p>Less than two weeks later, Mark and Patricia McCloskey—a St. Louis couple facing charges for waving guns at Black Lives Matter protesters marching past their mansion—gave a prerecorded speech that directly referenced zoning policy at the Republican National Convention.<br/></p><p>"(Democrats) want to abolish the suburbs altogether by ending single-family zoning," Patricia said, claiming that doing so "would bring crime, lawlessness and low-quality apartments into thriving suburban neighborhoods." </p><p>Jake Wegmann, an assistant professor at the University of Texas at Austin School of Architecture, said this type of rhetoric is new—at least on the national level. </p><p>"It is absolutely a new thing for zoning to be mentioned in the context of a presidential campaign," he told Austonia. "But I guess my caution is that the politics of land use reform don't map neatly onto a left-versus-right political spectrum, in my view." </p><p><strong>A local look</strong> </p><p>This plays out in Austin, where all 11 members of City Council are self-identified Democrats and yet typically vote 7-4 on land use items, with the majority supporting urbanist policies and the minority favoring preservationist ones. </p><p>Such a split has proven challenging as the city continues its nearly <a href="https://austonia.com/austin-land-use-code-rewrite" target="_self">decade-long process</a> to rewrite its land use code, which was last updated in the mid-1980s. Although it is currently on hold due to a lawsuit, the code rewrite—which has cost more than $10 million to date—is a critical issue, and one on which many of <a href="https://austonia.com/austin-city-council-seats-up-for-election" target="_self">the 20 candidates for Austin City Council</a> have an opinion.</p><p>Opponents say a rewrite would pander to developers, destroy neighborhood character and accelerate gentrification. </p><p>Fred Lewis is the president of Community Not Commodity, a local organization that sued the city over the current rewrite process and was a vocal critic of its previous effort, dubbed CodeNEXT.</p><p>"The marketplace is not going to build modest, middle-class housing," <a href="https://austonia.com/austin-land-use-code-rewrite" target="_blank">he told Austonia last month</a>, adding that he feels the rewrite is instead about satiating "developer greed." </p><p>Supporters, on the other hand, argue that the city's current code stands in the way of more equitable, sustainable development, at best, and <a href="https://www.kut.org/post/white-homeowners-dominate-input-over-austins-land-code-rewrite-one-group-trying-change" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">is racist and classist</a>, at worst.</p><p>David and Courtney Whitworth co-own the Central Austin infill home building company Whitworth Homes. <a href="https://www.austinchronicle.com/columns/2020-09-11/opinion-time-to-look-in-the-mirror-on-housing/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">David believes</a> the current code prevents the construction of denser, more affordable residences.</p><p>"What bothers me is we have a code that only allows Mercedes," he said. "If only our code would allow Kias, we wouldn't have to be subsidizing people into Mercedes." </p><p>Despite finding themselves on opposite sides of the land use debate, many candidates—and Austin residents—find themselves in the same political party.</p><p>This may be because zoning is a local issue that, until recently, was rarely discussed by national politicians. </p><p>Researchers at Stanford University wrote about the challenge of ascertaining the politics of zoning reform <a href="http://cess.nyu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Nall.pdf" target="_blank">in a 2018 paper</a>. </p><p>"Such policies tend to benefit the poor and working class—generally aligning with Democrats' concerns—but they also involve an embrace and a trust of private commercial interests (including real estate developers) who tend to be associated with the Republican party," they wrote. </p><p>Wegmann went further, mapping out a matrix in which the x-axis was the American political spectrum and the y-axis went from zoning reform at the top to the status quo at the bottom.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="ca01a48c273889ad1003f9a926e7cfdb" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="1dbdd" type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDUzMTI1Mi9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1NDE4MzI3OX0.ar1Ly4BRHlX1Q9f2j4_cC5EJj5foN35KRrS_AYjdjY8/img.png?width=980"/>
</p><p>In the upper left quadrant, Democrats who support zoning reform may cite a desire to desegregate cities, while Democrats who oppose it would argue that increased density benefits private developers, Wegmann said.<br/></p><p>In the upper right quadrant, Republicans who favor zoning reform may appeal to property rights, while opponents feel "single-family houses preserve a nurturing atmosphere for traditional, nuclear families," he added. </p><p>This dynamic presents the opportunity for an odd bedfellows coalition, Wegmann said, similar to the bipartisan support for criminal justice reform in recent years. </p><p>But it has also divided those who purport to share the same values. </p><p><strong>A case study</strong> </p><p>District 10 City Council Member Alison Alter describes herself as a progressive Democrat and tends to vote with the preservationist minority on land use issues. </p><p>"What people want is to have a say in how the growth happens," she said of some Austinites' opposition to a new code. "They don't want us to just unleash it and rubber stamp it. They want us to guide it."</p><p>For Alter, such guidance means ensuring that new development prioritizes affordability and environmental friendliness and honors neighborhood character and property owners' rights. </p><p>"I think we need to require more than density," she said.</p><p>Alter presented a hypothetical scenario to make her point: Say council is presented with a zoning case that proposes redeveloping a 171-unit apartment building made up of mostly two-, three- and four-bedrooms with a 486-unit building with mostly studios and one-bedrooms. The replacement would increase housing stock, but it could also decrease the number of people living there and displace the working families who had found a home in the existing building.</p><p>Because of cases like this, Alter is skeptical that density is the panacea that some zoning reform proponents say it is. </p><p>"I don't think we should just be trusting when the developers say that when they're going to do things it will all work out well," she said. </p><p>Alter's colleague, District 1 Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison, recently argued in favor of increased density for different reasons.</p><p>During an Oct. 13 meeting, council members discussed a rezoning application that would have upzoned a lot in the Montopolis neighborhood from a single-family designation to one that would have allowed townhomes and condos.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="0a49eb8635afdbbe02d3f26df9899fbe" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="fab3a" type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDUzMTAxOC9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxNTU1ODE5N30.F3KN2ZzQYN-wqA-74F1LsLmxAG6GV8dBTl-4sHLcdpM/img.png?width=980"/>
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">The rezoning application concerned the lot at 508 Kemp St. in the Montopolis neighborhood. </small><small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">(Google Maps)</small></p><p>Harper-Madison supported the change—and used the discussion to talk about zoning more broadly.<br/></p><p>"It's a little known fact that the legacy of single-family zoning is absolutely rooted in racism," she said, pointing to racial covenants used by neighborhood developments in California <a href="https://www.kqed.org/news/11840548/the-racist-history-of-single-family-home-zoning" target="_blank">during the early 20th century</a>.</p><p>Although she acknowledged the concerns some Austinites have about increased density—especially those who feel their neighborhoods are "bearing the brunt of the load," while others are left largely unaffected—she argued that leaving the Montopolis lot as is would enable the construction of an even more expensive single-family home and eliminate the 17 affordable units proposed in its place. </p><p>"I often get asked, 'How can I be an effective anti-racist?'" Harper-Madison said. "One answer should be to ditch that not-in-my-backyard mentality (and) embrace more dense, missing-middle housing types to accommodate more residents with less land (and) more affordable housing right in your neighborhood." </p><p>Wegmann, the UT professor, said the recent Black Lives Matter protests have accelerated an existing reevaluation of zoning norms. But he anticipates it's still a long way off before America's "dominant (housing) practice" changes.</p><p>"It might take decades," he said. "But I guess what's different is that it's beginning to be seriously challenged <a href="https://archive.curbed.com/2018/11/27/18113208/minneapolis-real-estate-rent-development-2040-zoning" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">in a few places</a>. And I see some evidence that it could spread further."</p><p><em>This article has been updated to clarify Alter's hypothetical. </em><br/></p><p><br/></p><p><strong>More on zoning: </strong></p>
<h2><a href="https://austonia.com/austin-land-use-code-rewrite" target="_self">Austin land use code rewrite stalls amid pandemic, lawsuit—but both sides say a solution is possible</a></h2>
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzk4MTkzMC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzMzQ1MDgwMX0.wo8BZTgfx3Sbxn_krJmy5nJQHeQVAY2segZ4kmm0Mco/img.jpg?width=980" id="1bf06" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="0da559a95053f508bcfd8bf318ae1d98" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />Austin land use code rewrite stalls amid pandemic, lawsuit—but both sides say a solution is possible(Emma Freer)
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(Emma Freer/Austonia)
If Proposition A is approved, it would help fund Project Connect, a transit plan that proposes an underground light rail tunnel at Republic Square.
With early voting underway, Austin residents are already casting their ballots for or against Proposition A, a city property tax rate increase that, if approved, would help pay for Project Connect, a $7.1 billion overhaul of the city's transit system.
<p>The measure has prompted the formation of two political action committees, countless op-eds and <a href="https://austonia.com/austonia-guide-project-connect" target="_blank">our own guide</a>, which answered questions such as: <a href="https://austonia.com/project-connect-taxes" target="_blank">How much will Prop A raise my property tax bill?</a> And: <a href="https://austonia.com/project-connect-budget" target="_blank">How likely is it that the federal government will help pay for Project Connect?</a></p><p>Today, we are publishing a short argument from both sides of the debate.</p><p>Chas Moore, Nora Linares-Moeller, David Foster and Jeremy Hendricks write in support of Prop A. Moore is the executive director of the Austin Justice Coalition. Linares-Moeller is executive director of HousingWorks Austin; she donated $263.47 to the <a href="https://www.transitnowatx.com/" target="_blank">Mobility for All</a> PAC, according to campaign finance reports. Foster is the Texas director of Clean Water Action. Hendricks is a member of the executive board of the Laborers International Union of North America. <span></span></p><p>Jim Skaggs and Roger Falk write in opposition. Skaggs is the chairperson and CEO of the Seattle-based pharmaceutical company Aminex Therapeutics and has donated $14,000 to the anti-Project Connect PAC <a href="https://ourmobilityourfuture.com/" target="_blank">Our Mobility Our Future</a>, according to campaign finance reports. Falk is an analyst with OMOF and volunteers with the Travis County Taxpayers Union, which was founded by former Austin City Council member Don Zimmerman.</p><p><em>Disclaimer: These submissions are the unedited views of both sides of the argument. Claims made have not been fact-checked to give the proponents and opponents a chance to speak their minds freely. </em></p>
Pro: Prop A is a progressive step toward traffic relief, job creation and a greener planet
<p>For such a proudly progressive city, Austin has been spinning its wheels with a transportation system stuck in the past.</p> <p>Our roads-only approach to mobility has resulted in crushing congestion, exacerbated racial and economic inequities, and it keeps paving the way for environmental catastrophe.</p> <p>Congestion-proof light rail will tie together UT, the Capitol, Downtown, South Congress, and the airport, and be supported by rapid bus citywide, new passenger rail in the Eastern Crescent, and more options for suburban commuters. Along with more than a dozen new on-demand neighborhood circulator zones, this complete network will finally provide a viable, scalable, and comprehensive alternative to crammed highways and parking headaches.</p> <p>For Austin's transit-dependent riders — a group that is disproportionately Black, Latino, lower-income, or disabled — Project Connect slashes travel times and expands access to work, school, grocery stores, and health care.</p> <p>Like other vital infrastructure projects, Project Connect will create thousands of jobs and drive billions into our local economy. But Prop A is a distinct departure from the failed model of road-building. This plan preserves neighborhoods and includes a historic $300 million anti-displacement investment that will create and preserve affordable housing so people who rely on transit will still be able to use it. Greater access to high-quality transit will give more households the option to save thousands each year by reducing the number of cars they own.</p> <p>Finally, Prop A represents one of the most consequential steps we can collectively take to prevent climate change. Our transportation system is the largest single source of greenhouse gas emissions in our community. By electrifying our bus fleet and getting more people to take transit, we can leave a cleaner, greener planet for our children and grandchildren.<br><br>Remember: Project Connect is a long-term investment in Austin's future. Despite misleading exaggerations, it will only increase your total tax bill by about 4 percent. For most residents, that's less than 80 cents per day.</p> <p>Austin's population will grow by 2 million additional people by 2040. We can't afford not to vote for Prop A. It's finally time to move Austin in the right direction.</p>Con: Project Connect is too expensive, especially during a pandemic, and serves too few
<p>PropA proposes the greatest city tax increase in history for ineffective, obsolete trains in Austin; where less than 2% use transit. Transit ridership has not increased in 30 years with spending $8 billion (today$) and population doubling.</p><p>PropA's $144 million/year will not fund Project Connect (PC); many billions in bonds are needed in the next eight years, increasing taxes again. Federal funding is unsubstantiated and doubtful. The Red Line had massive cost overruns, false ridership promises and no federal funding.</p><p>PropA results in a twenty-five percent city tax increase, that grows with appraisals. Promoted as "Regional" transit, this cost is exclusively paid by city property owners/renters.</p><p>80% of this Prop funds $250 million/mile, light rail. At full capacity, this rail's exaggerated ridership serves well less than 1% of regional mobility. All bus elements can be funded without record tax increases. <br><br>This is not a time for useless higher taxes, penalizing struggling businesses, homeowners, and renters. We need to reach a stable economic condition, with COVID-19 under control.<br><br>This pandemic and the possibility of more have placed transit systems in crisis and ridership is down more than 50%. Until transit's future design and capacity is established, investment in contagion vulnerable infrastructure is irresponsible. <br><br>Expansion of work-from-home substantially reduced commuting demand Project Connect hoped to serve. Reduction in traffic and vehicle emissions due to reduced commuting creates many times, 10-15 years earlier, the Project Connect benefits. NO COST TO PROPERTY OWNERS OR RENTERS. <br><br>Mobility is evolving, rail's old technology, will be obsolete before complete. A 17-mph trolley, stopping every other block, isn't "rapid/mass" transit. </p><p>Most growth isn't near trains. Unless you live near trains, access is challenging and time consuming. People won't abandon convenience and utility of personal vehicles for public transit's lost time and inconvenience. </p><p>It shouldn't take millions in propaganda and deceptive promises of congestion relief, jobs, social justice and climate change to sell a good plan.</p><p>This is a taxpayer funded, multi-billion-dollar jackpot for rail special interests and developers. Transit policy should be driven by logistics and need, not politics and greed. <br><br>This rail is an inequitable displacement machine, penalizing low income, working families. The "displacement" $300 million does not exist.<br><br>Some say past neglect justifies action, but this is a disaster plan and would be the most destructive project in Austin's history with years of disruption and pollution; digging up downtown with major impacts on businesses and mobility. <br><br><br></p>From Your Site Articles
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(Bob Daemmrich/Austonia)
Travis County voters waited in long lines on Tuesday to cast their ballots on the first day of early voting in Texas.
Nearly 36,000 Travis County residents cast their ballots on Tuesday, the first day of early voting, according to the Travis County Clerk's office. An additional 22,577 mail-in ballots were received, bringing the total number of ballots cast yesterday to 58,467—more than double the number of mail-in ballots sent out during the last presidential election, in 2016.
<p>Although many local early voting polling places posted wait times of more than an hour yesterday and photos circulated on social media showing long lines, Travis County saw a slight decrease in turnout on the first day of early voting. On Tuesday, 35,890 people voted early, compared to 35,999 on the last day of early voting in <a href="https://countyclerk.traviscountytx.gov/images/pre/2016.11.08_Early_Voting/2016.11.04_G16_Daily_Totals.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">the November 2016 election</a>. </p><p>Other Texas counties saw a different trend.</p><p>More than <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2020/10/13/texas-early-voting/?utm_campaign=trib-social&utm_content=1602680538&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">128,000 people in Harris County</a> voted early yesterday, shattering the previous record of about 68,000 that was set in 2016. In Dallas County, <a href="https://www.fox4news.com/news/dallas-county-sets-record-for-first-day-of-early-voting" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">nearly 60,000 voted early</a>, breaking a previous record of around 59,000 in 2018.</p><p>In the 2016 election, Travis County saw its highest early voting turnout on the first day. By the end of the early voting period, just over half of registered voters in the county had voted early, either in person or via a mail-in ballot.</p><p>The early voting period in Texas runs through Oct. 30. Gov. Greg Abbott <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2020/07/27/texas-greg-abbott-early-voting-november/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">announced in July</a> that it would be extended six days due to the pandemic.</p><p>Travis County has 37 early voting locations. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays. Voters can find wait time estimates for each location <a href="https://countyclerk.traviscountytx.gov/elections/wait-time-map.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><div class="rm-embed embed-media"><iframe height="480" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=17x85RnH1fkaaaH7GW091vVUYKsYOwKsq" width="640"></iframe></div><p>The following six sites will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 28; Thursday, Oct. 29; and Friday, Oct. 30:<br/></p><ul class="ee-ul"><li>Ben Hur Shrine Center</li><li>Millennium Youth Complex</li><li>PfISD Rock Gym</li><li>South Park Meadows, Suite 400</li><li>South Park Meadows, Suite 500</li><li>Austin Central Library</li></ul><p>Travis County residents can confirm they are registered <a href="https://www.votetravis.com/vexpress/display.do" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>, learn more about voter identification requirements in Texas <a href="https://countyclerk.traviscountytx.gov/elections/new-voter-id-requirements-for-texas-voters.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>, view their personal ballots <a href="https://countyclerk.traviscountytx.gov/elections/current-election/what-s-on-the-ballot.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a> and find races to watch <a href="https://austonia.com/travis-county-early-voting-2020" target="_self">here</a>.</p>
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The Austonia guide to Proposition A, the ballot issue that could green-light Project Connect
14 October
(Emma Freer/Austonia)
This Nov. 3, city residents will determine the fate of Proposition A. If approved, it will increase the city's property tax rate by 20% to help fund Project Connect, a 15-year, $7.1 billion overhaul of Austin's public transit system.
<p>The upcoming tax rate election is historic in its scope (and cost). Additionally, the pandemic has raised questions about the long-term future of work-from-home policies and local traffic congestion.</p><p>With early voting starting Tuesday—and less than a month until Election Day—we've rounded up our weeks of coverage on this issue, which answers some big questions.</p>
<p class=""><br/></p>
Where do the two proposed light rail lines included in Project Connect go?
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDUwNzUwNy9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY2NTI4OTQyOX0.VW4J2ak59RQ4HXKRUD0l5cVRxkeVHfdq4XThhKWBZq8/img.jpg?width=980" id="03326" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="e9c6dde26ace2bf33422c1e42a057c97" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />(Capital Metro)
<p>There are two light rail lines included in the "initial investment" under Project Connect.</p><p>The orange line would run approximately 21 miles from the North Lamar Transit Center at North Lamar Boulevard and Hwy. 183 to Stassney Lane. </p><p>The blue line would run approximately 15 miles from the North Lamar Transit Center through downtown and east to the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. </p>What is the proposed pathway of the downtown underground tunnel included in the "initial investment" of Project Connect?
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="ed7a64edf4c7469ef4c52cd438b2d0f9"><iframe lazy-loadable="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OLZM_FXO8Bw?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span><p>The tunnel proposal is still being developed, but preliminary maps show its rough pathway is south from 11th and Guadalupe streets to Republic Square; east along 4th Street to the Downtown Station, which is between Trinity and Red River streets; and north along Trinity to 12th Street. </p><p>The tunnel would also continue south from the Downtown Station to the Mexican-American Cultural Center on Rainey Street, where <a href="https://capmetro.org/uploadedFiles/New2016/ProjectConnect/Maps/Project-Connect-Initial-Investment-ServiceLevelMap-JUN2020-06.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">one of the proposed light rail lines</a> would then progress above ground across Lady Bird Lake to the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.</p>How much will Project connect raise my taxes?
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDQ0MzY5My9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxNDU0ODc5OH0.Bb3tQZywQmgcH68kY8yu-OAWDLZpYqbNSVRDrqElfZo/img.jpg?width=980" id="f7a4b" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="60d37608ff79427307c54073e3dc81fb" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />(Emma Freer/Austonia)
<p>If approved, Proposition A would lead to a 20% increase to the city of Austin's property tax rate. It's important to note, however, that city property owners also pay property taxes to other entities, including Austin ISD, Travis County, Austin Community College and Central Health. If Proposition A is approved, city residents would see their overall property tax bill increase by around 4% because of Project Connect. Those who live outside the city limits will not be impacted.</p>Who are the supporters and opponents of Project Connect?
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzE0NTU4NS9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyNTQ5NzA1OX0.AA-vfwvtLm4EUj0lU8-qmISE2AXq8kwsHDEx_38yxAQ/img.png?width=980" id="c9313" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="eda9a03551c6ec179ed7265290ae5334" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />(Capital Metro)<p><a href="https://www.transitnowatx.com/" target="_blank">Mobility for All</a>, a recently formed political action committee that supports Proposition A, represents a broad coalition of community advocates and elected officials, including all 10 members of Austin City Council, Mayor Steve Adler, the Austin Chamber of Commerce, the Austin Tech Alliance, Environment Texas and the Travis County Democratic Party.</p><p>But there is also vocal opposition to the project, spearheaded by two groups: the <a href="https://ourmobilityourfuture.com/" target="_blank">Our Mobility Our Future</a> PAC and advocacy group <a href="https://voicesofaustin.org/" target="_blank">Voices of Austin</a>.</p><p>Both argue that Project Connect is too expensive—the median homeowner will see a $317 increase to their tax bill this year, if it is approved—and that the city is overpromising to voters what it can realistically achieve.</p>How feasible is Project Connect's $7.1 billion price tag?
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDQ2MzY0NS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyMDcxOTI5OX0.olzOHmpDmRGR6xt72VwGSmM0N7Lh5aIZv8hFZ6hYwZE/img.jpg?width=980" id="320ea" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="6533f94f72c870c7bb65d282a600a763" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />(Emma Freer/Austonia)
<p>Capital Metro and city officials say federal funding is very likely to come through if voters approve Proposition A. But opponents have raised concerns about their claims, and U.S. Rep Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, said such funding likely hinges on the political affiliations of the president. </p>How will Project Connect affect transit ridership?
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDQ3MDQxOS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzOTgxNTk1Nn0.oJL95e0l297Jskc5wYttYtgv3dnDAS9rOqDQK8BJ1N4/img.jpg?width=980" id="c5e04" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="8d80e0ea1185f1fbb5a08fd23161d22d" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />(Emma Freer/Austonia)
<p>Capital Metro expects that Project Connect will lead to <u><a href="https://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=341871" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">a tripling of its ridership</a>.</u> And Dr. Chandra Bhat, director of the Center for Transportation Research at the University of Texas at Austin, said such increased capacity will be needed given Austin's unabated population growth. </p><p>But critics of Project Connect dispute these ridership projections, arguing that anyone with the option to drive will choose to do so and pointing to a drop in ridership since the pandemic.</p>How does the pandemic affect Project Connect?
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDQ3NzQyOC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1ODcwODM5OX0.CW_WNpESIADFyrX6Ki58IilcgijVrWWusKdzDYjrCrQ/img.jpg?width=980" id="440c9" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="b0d7fb99b1cdc63e474df0a8669263a2" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />(Emma Freer/Austonia)
<p>Like most issues surrounding the transit plan, supporters and opponents have diverging takes on this one.</p><p>Supporters stress that Project Connect, if built, will help make Austin a more equitable city, both by expanding transit infrastructure and allocating <a href="https://communityimpact.com/austin/central-austin/transportation/2020/07/27/austin-moves-forward-with-phased-in-project-connect-plan-including-300-million-to-prevent-displacement/" target="_blank">$300 million in funding for anti-displacement initiatives</a>.</p><p>But opponents say it is unconscionable to propose a tax rate increase when so many Austinites are struggling financially because of the pandemic. They also argue that the new work-from-home policies should be factored into ridership expectations. </p>Why is there $300 million in anti-displacement funding included in the Project Connect plan?
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDUwODQwOC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyNzU1ODk5MX0.tOMLWOZRwP05-mPNBDEAkz4j_UuGqMw-CrFarbgKIbE/img.jpg?width=980" id="9c564" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="a6d8f9ade016fe7656d06e1eb2c2665f" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />(Emma Freer/Austonia)<p>Proponents of Project Connect say it will help make Austin a more equitable city by ensuring residents have access to an affordable and comprehensive transit system. But past transit initiatives suggest that the project could deepen the fault lines it hopes to address, which is why Austin City Council has allocated $300 million in anti-displacement initiatives under the proposed plan. </p>Why did Capital Metro cut nearly $3 billion from the Project Connect proposal in July?
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzQwNzMxMS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxNzIxNzU2OX0.BGvaCYItlntuxtYFQQ_7Yj_-r8AL4RqBXJQnYwc4vO4/img.jpg?width=980" id="5cf66" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="4b2b7e5ff488e8d654a5359f20d4f560" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />(Capital Metro)<p>Capital Metro debuted an updated Project Connect proposal in June, which included nearly $3 billion in cuts in light of the pandemic. The changes included shortening the proposal Orange light rail line and replacing the proposed Gold light rail line with MetroRapid service. As a result, the proposed increase to the city of Austin's property tax rate fell from 11 cents to 8.75 cents. </p>How much has Capital Metro spent on Project Connect ads?
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDQ2MzY2OS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyMzc3MjE2OX0.v-18rZ_jMCG2IHzIOVKmsnpwoKmenOPB9NRNqpxLbME/img.jpg?width=980" id="6ac47" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="5c409911d60927a8f8a553fe9ab36529" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />(Capital Metro)<p>Jenna Maxfield, a spokesperson for Capital Metro, wrote in an email to Austonia that the agency is required by the Federal Transit Administration to advertise public meetings and "create educational messages," which it does by paying for sponsored content on area news sites. In FY 2020, which ended Oct. 1, Capital Metro anticipates it spent $1.1 million on such messaging; the agency is still tallying its September expenses.</p>What was the context around Project Connect before the pandemic hit?
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzM4NjEyNS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyMDU2ODUyOX0.oUiGfMuAb3K2Wc3ENtjc3Zf_PvWxP-C0A6S44kVk0Ps/img.jpg?width=980" id="96f10" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="2beeea340e282e876028bb9ff301fa82" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />(Capital Metro)
<p>Ben Wear, who covered transportation for the Austin American-Statesman for 15 years, wrote about why Capital Metro and its supporters had "the wind at their backs" before the pandemic hit and why COVID-19 has made their pathway to victory murkier. </p>From Your Site Articles
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(Bob Daemmrich/Austonia)
Ellen Chatterton of Austin studies the sample ballot as long lines of voters queue up to cast their ballots on the first day of early voting in Texas. Travis County early voting polling place wait times can be found here.
Travis County is poised to break records this election.
As of 9:52 a.m. on Tuesday, the first day of early voting, more than 6,000 people had cast their ballot in person, Travis County Clerk Dana DeBeauvoir told county commissioners. By noon, that number had more than doubled—to 14,000—according to a follow-up tweet.
<p>"That's good?" Travis County Judge Sam Biscoe asked. "Yes," DeBeauvoir responded. "Very good."</p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="3796681b0f58286ad54897d73ce4d546" id="c6353"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1316062760082567169"><div style="margin:1em 0">Austin, you showed up this morning! Early voting continues through October 30th. Think of November 3rd as the last… https://t.co/0HHd4xUvaW</div> — Mayor Adler | 😷wear a mask. (@Mayor Adler | 😷wear a mask.)<a href="https://twitter.com/MayorAdler/statuses/1316062760082567169">1602608787.0</a></blockquote></div><p> Nearly 36,000 people voted in-person on the first day of early voting ahead of the last presidential election. </p><p>The county has <a href="https://austonia.com/travis-county-early-voting-2020" target="_blank">37 early voting locations</a>. Some residents arrived early.</p><p>"We had people waiting overnight to get inside the polling place at 7 a.m.," DeBeauvoir said. "There are lines almost everywhere."</p><p>Although she said they were quickly processed, most polling locations were posting a wait time of more than 20 minutes around midday. Voters can find wait time estimates for local polling places <a href="https://countyclerk.traviscountytx.gov/elections/wait-time-map.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="fb65ae9a387a2a6ae3171d06d43377ff" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="71e56" type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDUxMjU0NS9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYwOTA2MDAzMX0.CWBYHsf8NOeWDHvt-PfIEjWIATf3MHpJQYiTgUnMnV0/img.png?width=980"/>
<small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">(Travis County Clerk)</small></p><p>The early voting period runs through Oct. 30. You can find a list of polling locations, opening hours and races to watch <a href="https://austonia.com/travis-county-early-voting-2020" target="_self">here</a>.<br/></p><p><strong>Safety at the polls</strong> </p><p>In addition to COVID-era precautions, which include "finger cots" and multiple cleanings throughout the day, DeBeauvoir said her office is working with local law enforcement agencies to ensure polling places are safe and secure for voters.</p><p>"We know that there's a lot of threats out there on social media, especially about <a href="https://austonia.com/austin-protest-election-week" target="_blank">marauding brands of maskless militias</a> that are going to take over the polling places," she told commissioners. </p><p>But DeBeauvoir said she is unconcerned, given the oversight of election judges and <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2020/10/09/texas-election-poll-watchers/" target="_blank">the requirements of poll watchers</a>, who are credentialed and limited to two at each polling place.</p><p>"There's no such thing as a stealth-appointed poll watcher," she said in response to a question about Donald Trump Jr., who called on "every able-bodied man (and) woman to join Army for Trump's election security operation" in <a href="https://www.facebook.com/officialteamtrump/videos/2640587549523836" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">a recent political advertisement.</a></p><p><strong>Voting by mail</strong></p><p>Despite myriad lawsuits concerning <a href="https://austonia.com/politics/court-extends-block-on-vote-by-mail" target="_blank">who qualifies to vote by mail in Texas</a> and <a href="https://austonia.com/voting-rights-groups-sue-texas-gov" target="_blank">where residents are allowed to drop off mail-in ballots</a>, DeBeauvoir told commissioners that her office has received a record-setting 78,000 mail-in ballot applications for the Nov. 3 election and expects around 100,000 total by the Oct. 29 deadline. </p><p>The vast majority of applicants—86%—are residents over 65 years of age, which is one of the eligibility criteria. </p><p>Around 75,000 applicants have been sent their mail-in ballots, and more than 13,000 have returned them, DeBeauvoir said. </p><p>In comparison, her office sent out <a href="https://austonia.com/heb-letter-vote-by-mail" target="_blank">only 27,000 mail-in ballots</a> ahead of the 2016 general election. </p><p><strong>Voter registration</strong> </p><p>In other record-setting news, more than 850,000 Travis County residents—of 97% of eligible voters—registered by the state's Oct. 5 deadline, according to the Travis County Tax Assessor-Collector and Voter Registrar Bruce Elfant.</p><div class="rm-embed embed-media"><iframe allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="469" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=469&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fbjelfant%2Fvideos%2F10158930488333130%2F&show_text=false&width=560" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" width="560"></iframe></div><p>"These numbers exceed even my expectations," Elfant said in a press release issued Tuesday.<br/></p><p>However, Elfant added that it is typical that the number of people who vote is "far less" than the number of people registered to do so. </p><p>For example, in the November 2016 election, just under two-thirds of registered voters in Travis County actually cast their ballots, <a href="https://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/historical/travis.shtml" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">according to the Texas Secretary of State's office</a>. </p><p>"We are all hoping that this election is different and we not only have a record number of registrations but a record number of voters casting ballots," he said in the statement. </p><p><strong>More on early voting:</strong></p>
<h2><a href="https://austonia.com/travis-county-early-voting-2020" target="_self">Here's where you can vote early in Travis County</a></h2>
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDUwNjk0OC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxNDE0MDkxOX0.LO36rxXIBv6gr3diP978TaghyKYjXPrD216Z4q2xUYg/img.jpg?width=980" id="518b2" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="0b3ce45ee582775ac4cf66abb99318e8" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />Here's where you can vote early in Travis County(Emma Freer/Austonia)
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