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Voters in Elgin approved 13 of 14 proposed amendments to the city charter Nov. 4, while Bastrop County mirrored statewide results in passing all 17 amendments to the Texas Constitution.
Bastrop County reported 10,922 ballots cast, about 18% of its 62,060 registered voters. In Elgin, more than 820 residents weighed in on updates to the city’s governing document.
All Elgin charter propositions except one — Proposition E, which sought to extend terms for the mayor and City Council from two to three years — passed by wide margins of at least 25 percentage points. A school bond measure for Mc-Dade Independent School District, however, fell short.
The $18 million McDade ISD bond, which would have funded new classrooms, a cafetorium, safety upgrades and campus renovations, was rejected by voters,
with 58% opposed.
ELGIN CHARTER RESULTS
Proposition A (76% in favor): Removes language deemed repetitive or unnecessary from the charter and summarizes overlapping state laws.
Proposition B (78% in favor): Brings city procedures into compliance with state election laws, including ballot name formatting, canvassing results and submitting voter petitions.
Proposition C (90% in favor): Clarifies that candidates for ward seats must live in the ward for at least 12 months before the election.
Proposition D (68% in favor): Eliminates rider threshold requirements for public bus lines before funding can be pledged to train projects.
Proposition E (35% in favor): Would have extended mayor and City Council terms from two years to three years, aligning elections on a staggered three-year cycle.
Proposition F (92% in favor): Requires council members to live in the ward they represent for the duration of their term.
Proposition G (73% in favor): Reduces the number of unexcused absences that result in forfeiture of office for council members from three consecutive meetings to two.
Proposition H (91% in favor): Clarifies conflicts of interest that would require the mayor and council members to recuse themselves from votes under state law.
Proposition I (94% in favor): Mandates an annual performance evaluation of the city manager by the City Council.
Proposition J (72% in favor): Limits the ability to recall a council member elected by ward to only voters who live within that ward.
Proposition K (83% in favor): Requires the city secretary to issue petition forms for recall, initiative or referendum efforts within three business days after the petitioners’ affidavit is filed.
Proposition L (68% in favor): Allows ordinances passed by voter initiative or referendum to be published on the city’s website rather than the city’s official newspaper of record, the Elgin Courier.
Proposition M (63% in favor): Modernizes charter language to be gender-neutral by replacing terms such as “he” with inclusive alternatives.
Proposition N (69% in favor): Establishes term limits of four consecutive terms for mayor or council members, and eight total combined terms for serving in both roles.
