HOUSTON -- Texas became the 19th state to approve a constitutional ban of gay marriage as voters decided nine proposed amendments Tuesday.

Like every other state except Massachusetts, Texas didn't permit same-sex marriages, but the constitutional amendment was touted as an extra guard against future court rulings.

With 99 percent of precincts reporting, 76 percent, or 1,692,668 voters, favored the ban while 24 percent, or 531,613, opposed it. The constitutional amendment takes effect immediately.

The ban on same-sex marriage was the main attraction on a ballot that included Houston's mayor and several city council seats.

Proposition 2 amends the Texas constitution to ban gay marriage, which is already against the law.

Supporters of Prop 2 say a constitutional ban is necessary to ensure that a judge doesn't decide to allow gays to marry, and deny it could jeopardize man-woman marriage. Republican Attorney General Greg Abbott has agreed with them.

At the Republican headquarters, party leaders said their hard work to pass the ban paid off.

"This will carry not only Harris County, but it will also carry the city of Houston, which means it will be an overwhelming victory in the state of Texas," said Paul Bettencourt, the Harris County Tax-Assessor Collector.

Many religious leaders also fought for Prop 2, saying there was only one formula for marriage.

"In the beginning, God created a man and a woman to get married, and not a man and a man or a woman and a woman," said Don Bergstrom, with the Houston First Church Of God.

Opponents argue that a constitutional ban is merely a statement of discrimination against homosexuals. They also suggest that the proposed amendment was so poorly drafted that it could endanger common-law or even traditional marriages, depending on how a judge interprets it.

"I think it's discrimination no matter any way you slice it and we don't need it in our bill of rights," said Nicole Craig, who opposed Prop 2.

"I don't think religious values should be written into the Texas constitution," opponent Jim Null said.

Opponents said they are prepared to go to federal court to get an injunction against Proposition 2.

Voters Decide Nine Statewide Propositions

Proposition 1 was also approved. It establishes a fund to relocate freight railways so they are less intrusive in urban areas. Critics called the proposal corporate welfare, saying it is the equivalent of a tax subsidy for businesses.

Other proposed amendments to the state constitution on the ballot were:

Proposition 3 (Approved): Clarifies that certain economic development programs do not constitute a debt.
Proposition 4 (Approved): Authorizes the denial of bail to a criminal defendant who violates a condition of the defendant's release pending trial.
Proposition 5 (Rejected): Allows the Legislature to define rates of interest for commercial loans.
Proposition 6 (Approved): Allows for one additional public member and a constitutional county court judge in the membership of the State Commission on Judicial Conduct.
Proposition 7 (Approved): Authorizes line-of-credit advances under a reverse mortgage.
Proposition 8 (Approved): Provides for the clearing of land titles by relinquishing and releasing any state claim to sovereign ownership or title to interest in certain land in Upshur County and in Smith County.
Proposition 9 (Rejected): Authorizes the Legislature to provide for a six-year term for a board member of a regional mobility authority.

Houston Mayor Wins Reelection

Houston Mayor Bill White easily won reelection to a second term Tuesday.

Gladys House, Luis Ullrich, Jack Terence and Anthony Dutrow ran against White, who received 91 percent of the vote. It's one of the largest winning margins in Houston's history.

The mayor was proud of his city in his acceptance speech.

"Today, with our votes, we sent a message to the people across this country -- that people from different backgrounds can govern together with competence, integrity and compassion. Aren't you proud of that?" he said.

The mayor also looked to the future.

"During the next two years, I just want folks to know that I'm going to be working hard every day, as I have, to keep our traffic moving, to keep our economy moving and to make our City Hall the most efficient and responsive in the United States," he said.

The mayor and his wife came on stage while "Start Me Up" by the Rolling Stones played in the background.

White, 51, is a Harvard-educated lawyer, former deputy U.S. energy secretary and former chief executive of Wedge Group, a holding company with energy and real-estate interests. Although a former Texas Democratic Party chairman, he never held elective office before becoming mayor.

Runoff To Determine Moreno's Successor

Houston-area voters in Texas District No. 143 took part in a special election to decide who will fill the unexpired term of former State Rep. Joe Moreno. Six Democrats were vying for the seat in the Texas House of Representatives.

The 40-year-old Democrat died in a traffic accident on May 6 while driving from Houston to Austin following an NBA playoff game between the Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks at the Toyota Center.

Ana E. Hernandez had 44 percent of the vote and will be in a runoff against Laura Salinas, who had 17 percent.

The 27-year-old Hernandez is a lawyer with ConocoPhillips who worked for Moreno's campaign in 2000 and served as chief of staff for state Representative Jessica Farrar.

Hernandez had the support of Moreno's family, as well as the Democratic Party.

"I know this is what he wanted us to do and we'll honor that," said Frank Moreno, Joe Moreno's father.

The 28-year-old Salinas is an assistant leasing administrator for Moody Ramblin Interests in Houston.

Voter Turnout Steady But Low As Expected

Secretary of State Roger Williams predicted a voter turnout of 16 percent for the election.

"It has been pretty steady. It hasn't been a heavy turnout but it has been steady," an election official at a southwest Houston polling location told KPRC Local 2.

Through the two-week period of early voting that ended Friday, just over 5 percent of registered voters had cast ballots in the state's 15 most populous counties.

Typically turnout is low in a constitutional amendments election in which there are no people running for statewide office. In the 2003 amendments election, when Texans approved a high-profile lawsuit limitation measure, 12.2 percent of registered voters showed up.

Texas has about 12.3 million registered voters.