| The vote count was low, but all 16 state constitutional amendments were approved by voters Tuesday - both statewide and in Fort Bend County.
Some 23,142 of the county's 265,109 registered voters participated in Tuesday's election, representing an 8.73 percent turnout.
Proposition 9, which authorized the Texas Legislature to exempt up to 100 percent of the ad valorem taxes on the homestead property of veterans with 100 percent total disability resulting from military service, received overwhelming approval here with 88.98 percent of the votes cast. It was also the most popular amendment statewide, passing with 90.87 percent approval.
Other propositions which passed by a margin of at least four to one locally included:
€ Proposition 7, which allows governmental entities that acquire private property through eminent domain that is not used within 10 years to make available for repurchase by the previous owners at its market value when the property was acquired;
€ Proposition 11, which requires Texas legislators to record all their votes;
€ Proposition 13, which authorizes the denial of bail to a person who violates certain court orders or conditions of release in a felony or family violence case.
Among the propositions which passed by narrower margins in the county were:
€ Proposition 4, which allows the state to issue $1 billion for repairs of state facilities, ranging from state parks to state schools - passed with 59.18 percent;
€ Proposition 12, which provides up to $5 billion in bond proceeds for highway improvement projects - passed with 63.83 percent;
€ Proposition 15, which provides up to $3 billion in bonds to find causes and cures for cancer - passed with 63.79 percent;
€ Proposition 16, which provides up to $250 million in bonds to provide assistance in economically distressed areas - passed with 60.47 percent.
Other propositions and their percentages in Fort Bend were:
€ Proposition 1, Angelo State University moving to the Texas Tech system, 66.63 percent;
€ Proposition 2, funding education loans, 67.51 percent;
€ Proposition 3, providing a maximum homestead tax, 74.75 percent;
€ Proposition 5, small town tax issues, 65.38 percent;
€ Proposition 6, single vehicle tax exemption, 75.93 percent;
€ Proposition 8, clarifying home equity loans, 78.96 percent;
€ Proposition 10, abolishing the position of inspector of hides, 75.88 percent;
€ Proposition 14, allowing judges to finish terms, despite age beyond 75, 75.54 percent.
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