Austin Voters Weigh Eight Charter Amendments
Eight city charter propositions, including an outside finance audit measure, appear on the November 3 ballot.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in City Hall
Live Poll
Should Austin be required to hold an outside audit of its finances every five years?
Austin voters will decide eight propositions amending the city charter on Nov. 3, 2026. Proposition I would require an outside audit of the city's finances at least every five years.
Why it matters
The measures would change how Austin audits its finances, appoints its city attorney, sets campaign limits and schedules citizen-led votes. Proposition I drew opposition from Mayor Kirk Watson, several council members and U.S. Rep. Greg Casar.
Prop I qualified with more than 21,000 registered-voter signatures and would require the city to pick an audit firm within 120 days. A similar proposition failed 51% to 49% in 2012, and final outcomes may not be known until Wednesday morning.
The players
Bill Aleshire
Former Travis County judge who authored Prop I and argues the outside audit would save the city money.
Kirk Watson
Mayor of Austin who opposes Prop I.
Greg Casar
U.S. Representative who opposes Prop I.
Vanessa Fuentes
Austin City Council member who opposes Prop I, calling it expensive and a conflict of interest.
The details
Proposition H would give the City Council power to appoint or fire the city attorney, while Proposition F would let the city set campaign contribution and spending limits effective Jan. 1. Proposition G would move citizen-led proposal votes to November elections in even-numbered years. Prop I's author, Bill Aleshire, says the audit would save money, while Council Member Vanessa Fuentes called it expensive and a conflict of interest.
Timeline
Oct. 7: Fuentes spoke against Prop I at a press conference.
Nov. 3, 2026: Voters decide eight charter amendment propositions.
7 p.m. Nov. 3, 2026: Polls close and early voting totals are released first.
Wednesday morning, Nov. 4, 2026: Some propositions may not be decided until this time.
Legal Context
A similar charter proposition failed 51% to 49% in 2012, showing how narrowly voters have previously rejected comparable changes. The current eight-measure slate revisits several of those governance questions on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot.
Voters decide whether the city must hire an outside auditor every five years and whether council gains power over the city attorney. Campaign contribution limits and the timing of citizen-led votes could also change how future Austin elections operate.
The takeaway
Austin voters' decisions on these eight propositions will set rules for audits, campaign finance and city governance for years. Readers should check final results after polls close on Nov. 3.
What happens next
Polls close at 7 p.m. Nov. 3, 2026, with early voting totals released first; some propositions may not be decided until Wednesday morning, Nov. 4.
Further reading
Explore more on City Hall coverage of Austin's governance and ballot measures.
Live Poll
Should Austin be required to hold an outside audit of its finances every five years?
