Bill White has been elected to serve another term as mayor, students will have up to $500 million more for loans and $3 billion will go toward cancer research.
With all 874 precincts reporting, White garnered 86.45 percent of the votes over contenders Amanda C. Ulman and Outlaw Josey Wales IV.
Proposition 2, which would allow up to $500 million in bonds for loans to college students, was also passed by 64.41 percent.
Proposition 15 also passed by 63.68 percent; it will create a Cancer Prevention Research Institute.
All 16 constitutional amendments to the Texas Constitution were passed, four out of five Harris County propositions passed and the Port of Houston proposition passed as well. Harris County Proposition3 was not passed by a 2 percent margin. The proposition would have authorized $195 million to build an adult detention center.
Only 10.73 percent of registered voters in Harris County actually came out to the polls Tuesday. Students were a part of the majority and did not have much to say about the election – nor did some care.
"I knew about the election but didn’t have time," chemistry and pre-pharmacy senior Kathy Pham said. "My parents told me to, but I just didn’t."
Pham said she thinks voting is important even though she didn’t do it herself this time.
"I voted in the presidential election, and I think voting can be powerful when it’s done in large numbers," she said.
Pyschology senior Nabeel Siddiqi did go out to the polls Tuesday and voted solely on the 16 propositions available.
"The most important thing had to do with propositions for education spending," Siddiqi said. "It had to do with an amount of bonds – just because I believe education is just not funded properly."
Many students, such as finance senior Nikki Anafi, didn’t vote because they were not in their registered county on Tuesday.
"I probably would have voted if I was in my county," Anafi said. "Voting gives you a voice in our government."
Others students, such as English junior Yt Kim, said he didn’t vote because he doesn’t believe in the system.
"I don’t know. I don’t trust politics," he said.
Anafi disagreed voting does matter.
"I’m not against other people’s positions, but I do encourage everyone to do it," she said. "You might make a difference."
Some students didn’t even know the elections were today.
"I’m too busy with school and work," biology sophomore Ahmed Ali said. "I don’t even know who the candidates are."
Education senior Kelli Kelly had the same reason.
"I’ve been so focused on school I haven’t been watching the news," she said. "Because I’m here all day and by the time I get home the polls are closed."
The lack of turnout was felt by the only voting location on campus – Precinct 389.
By almost 3:30 p.m., only nine people out of about 500 registered voters had come to the University Center’s Bayou City room, Latuna Thomas, Precinct 389 clerk, said.
"I thought a lot of people would have come in before work, but I guess not," Precinct 389 Judge Joy Sampy said. "I know it all depends on what’s on the ballot but I thought more people would have come because of the HISD bonds."
The Houston Independent School District proposition was passed with a 2.38 percent margin and was one of the closest races Tuesday. The bond is intended to build 24 schools and renovate 134 others, according to the HISD Web site.
The low turnout didn’t surprise finance and math sophomore Kemi Bello – especially the lack of interest from students.
"Our age group doesn’t feel the need to participate because they’re used to their future being given to them," she said.
Bello, who is an international student, couldn’t vote but was saddened by how students don’t see the importance in elections.
"It’s not really a democracy without voting," she said. "If it keeps going like this, I think the lections won’t be determined by the majority anymore.
