The majority of votes cast in the election for the Sanctuary City for the Unborn ordinance that will outlaw abortions in the city were from voters new to casting ballots in Lubbock s May elections.
Only 1/3 of the voters had cast a vote in a recent May municipal election, according to Mike Stevens, co-owner of Action Printing and Action Data. Stevens, who has analyzed Lubbock elections data through numerous campaign cycles, said 2/3 of the voters hadn t voted in a May election since 2018, or the May elections in 2014 or 2016.
Lubbock s elections in May during even-numbered years are for local city councils and school boards. The biggest difference between the local elections in May and the general elections in November is that May elections aren t partisan races.
Lubbock will soon be at the center of the abortion debate here s what to expect
The abortion issue has wrestled its way to the local level, and it ll soon take center stage in Lubbock, where voters will be voting on an ordinance to outlaw abortions inside city limits.
Those arguing against the local ordinance say it is unconstitutional and unenforceable. The Lubbock City Council unanimously voted the ordinance down when it was put before them, citing legal issues in the ordinance and the current protections from the federal government for a woman to choose to have an abortion.
However, the low-bar to bring a citizen-led petition to a public vote allowed for exactly that, and beginning next month, citizens in Lubbock will be voting on an ordinance outlawing abortions inside city limits.