Austin voters pass Prop A, do not pass Prop B

Both propositions deal with oversight of Austin police, with Prop A using language that civilian oversight will "deter police misconduct and brutality," essentially strengthening its oversight compared to Prop B.

AUSTIN, Texas - As early voting results came in Saturday, supporters on both sides shared their reactions.

"We're feeling very pleased with the results so far," Kathy Mitchell with Equity Action said.

"Not surprised. It is Austin, let's face it, the Portland, the Seattle, the San Francisco of Texas, but disappointed. I think it has to be disheartening for the men and women of the Austin Police Department to see these results," Kevin Lawrence with the Texas Municipal Police Association said.

The two propositions look very similar, but it comes down to the level of oversight.

Prop A includes the phrase "...deter police misconduct and brutality by strengthening civilian police oversight," whereas Prop B just says "...strengthen civilian police oversight."

Prop A, backed by Equity Action, is essentially more oversight than Prop B, which is backed by Voters for Oversight and Police Accountability (VOPA) and the Austin Police Association.

"Prop A creates a very reasonable but effective system of civilian oversight. We believe that officers who are comfortable working within the rules should have no problem with it, and I think that's the first step in healing the community," Mitchell said.

"I think we're going to see litigation out of this. I think there's no doubt about that. I think it's going to make it more difficult for the for the city and the union to sit down and negotiate a new contract. But more importantly, it's going to make it that much more difficult for the Austin Police Department to fill their ranks," Lawrence said.

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As for voter turnout, Travis County Clerk Dyana Limon-Mercado says it's on par with other local elections.

About 28,000 people voted on Election Day, and roughly 50,000 voted early.

"We typically expect about five or seven percent in a local election. These results are on track with that. We're about six-and-half percent or just over that for turnout," Limon-Mercado said.

The Austin Police Association released a statement on Twitter in response to the election results:

"The Austin Police Association is aware of the election results and is taking immediate action to determine the city's intentions regarding the implementation and enforcement of the illegal provisions contained in Prop A. The APA simply will not stand by while this city and anti-police activists operate with blatant disregard for state law and the rights and protections afforded to our hardworking men and women. The APA continues to prioritize negotiating a long-term contract; however, we will not be forced back to the table under a structure in which a new city ordinance attempts to unlawfully interfere with the statutory rights associated with the meet and confer process. We look forward to finding these answers so that we can get back under a long-term contract that allows for our police department to recruit, hire and retain the best and brightest people who wish to serve this community in a law enforcement capacity."

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