(Credit: Associated Press)
Two of the most-debated items on the Austin ballot have failed to win voter approval.
Proposition J, which would’ve given voters the final say on any comprehensive changes to Austin’s land development code, was defeated on Tuesday. 52{facfe2172b04f299937824a9c1283369198151460b73c952acd056710c9bd5ea} of voters were opposed to the proposition compared to 48{facfe2172b04f299937824a9c1283369198151460b73c952acd056710c9bd5ea} of voters who were in favor of it. Proposition J was born out of the failed Code Next effort earlier this year.
Proposition K, which would’ve brought in a third-party, independent firm to audit the entire City of Austin government, also failed to win approval. Prop K’s defeat was even larger than Prop J’s, with 58{facfe2172b04f299937824a9c1283369198151460b73c952acd056710c9bd5ea} of voters feeling the City of Austin does not need an audit, compared to the 42{facfe2172b04f299937824a9c1283369198151460b73c952acd056710c9bd5ea} who want one.
Supporters of both propositions have accused Mayor Steve Adler and the city council of intentionally wording the ballot language in such a way that voters would oppose them.
Proposition J and K both landed on the November ballot following citizen-led petitions submitted to the city, each of which containing tens of thousands of signatures of support.
