The Nov. 5th elections resulted in the passage of all nine Texas propositions, including Proposition 6, which uses $2 dollars from the Rainy Day Fund for water projects that will fight drought.

Other propositions that will now take effect include property tax exemptions for surviving spouses of service members, removing provisions for the state medical education board, exemptions for taxes on aircraft parts, tax exemptions for disabled veterans, reverse mortgage loans for purchasing homestead property, allowing home-rule for cities filling vacant seats, revealing a provision for a hospital district in Hidalgo County and expanding the State Commission on Judicial Conduct’s sanctioning authority.

The Nov. 5th election was significant because it was the first to run under restrictions in Voter ID laws. The law requires a certain form of photo I.D., such as a driver’s license or passport, and is required at the polling place.

Those opposed to the voter I.D. law thought it would impede the voting process and put unnecessary duress on minority demographics.

According to election officials, voting increased from five percent in 2011 to eight percent in the statewide special election cycle, still a small portion of Texas’ population of 26 million. In Bexar County just 57,129 out of 904,872 voters cast ballots; only 6.3 percent of those registered.