Texas Politics & Government: Ideas and Institutions

  After six days of early voting in Travis County, Texas, only 2.30 percent of registered voters have cast a ballot. For all of Travis County, there are three members of the Central Appraisal District Board of Directors who are up for election in positions created by the Texas legislature. There are also elections for various local offices up for election in other special districts in Travis County. Here are the cumulative results by date of early voting:

  If you're interested in information about the candidates for the three elected positions on the Travis Central Appraisal District Board of Directors, please check out this Website by the Austin League of Women Voters (Vote411 link below). Several links are involved (don't get discouraged), but the effort is worth it. What do you desire in a candidate for the Travis CAD? Decide that first, then consult the candidates and their answers to the questions. The importance of this election is difficult to overstate! VOTE411   Scroll down to find where you can enter your address, city, state, and ZIP code.

  If you're a registered voter in any county with a population greater than 75,000 residents (that includes Travis, Williamson, Hays, Blanco, and Bastrop counties among others), there's an important election that few people know about occurring on May 4, 2024.  In the constitutional amendment that gave property owners and seniors a reduction in their property taxes, there was also a provision that modified the composition of the Central Appraisal Districts' (CADs) board of directors and how they are selected. For those counties, the board's composition now includes five members appointed by a majority vote of board members, three elected members, and the county tax assessor-collector, as an ex-officio director. Board members serve staggered four-year terms.  To be an appointed member of the board, candidates must serve on one of the taxing units that are a part of the CAD.  Appointed board members must garner a majority of the board members and the majority must incl...