Good turnout tallied for election

By Melinda L. Lucas

In what may be the best turnout in recent years for a constitutional amendment election, 16 percent of Shackelford County’s 2,281 registered voters cast 372 ballots on Tuesday and during early voting, for the most part following statewide trends.

Local residents turned down Proposition 1 to allow an elected municipal judge to serve in more than one municipality by a 44% to 56% margin, less than the state’s 35% to 65% rejection.

Proposition four banning a personal income tax was approved by 91% of county voters, and passed statewide by 76%.

Overall results from the proposal to allow exemption from ad valorem taxation any precious metals held in a state depository was the closest, passing only by a 52% margin across Texas.

Other propositions were approved overwhelmingly, especially number 10, which allows transfer of a law enforcement animal to a qualified caretaker. Results both locally and statewide showed about 95% support.

County clerk Cheri Hawkins said that a good percentage of local residents voted early and by mail, especially those who live in other parts of the county. Results from the voting machines were tallied quickly, with decisions reported to the state by 8:00 p.m.