Amendments decided Nov. 2

By Melinda L. Lucas

Less than 200 local voters turned out for this week’s Constitutional Amendment Election, about 8.6 percent of those registered in Shackelford County. About 80 of those voted early or by mail, with the Shackelford County Courthouse the only polling site in the county.

Local voters followed state trend, passing all eight propositions, some by wider margins than others.

Three amendments received 90% approval locally, including Prop. 6 about essential caregivers in facilities, Prop. 7 allowing the surviving spouses of a disabled person to receive a limitation on school taxes, and Prop. 8 giving survivors tax exemptions if their military spouses were killed in the line of duty.

Results from the voting machines were tallied quickly, with decisions reported to the state before 8:00 p.m.