Updated 10:02 p.m. Waller County Judge Trey Duhon III and Sheriff Glenn Smith expressed their excitement at the bond's passage Tuesday evening. Duhon said the new facility will allow the county to retain control of its jail operations rather than having to send inmates to other facilities. "I'm encouraged by the result," he said, admitting that because of the election's low turnout he was unsure how the measure would fare. "This was an important step for Waller County." Smith said the proposed 200-inmate jail will have technology upgrades for improved inmate and employee safety. "Anytime you can have an updated, modern facility you can operate it better," he said. Updated 9:30 p.m. As of 9:19 p.m. with all 27 precincts reporting, Waller County's $39.5 million jail bond passed Tuesday evening. All results are unofficial until canvassed. Of the 2,443 votes cast, 1,520 ballots, or 62.22 percent, were in favor of the bond while 923 votes, or 37.78 percent, were against the measure. The bond will be used to construct a new 200-inmate-capacity jail for the county, which was at risk of having to close its existing facility for failing to meet state standards. The county sheriff was unavailable for comment Tuesday evening. This story will be updated as information becomes available. Original post, 8:46 p.m. According to the Waller County elections department, the county's proposed $39.5 million jail bond was approved by the majority of early and absentee voters. All results are unofficial until canvassed. Of the 829 ballots cast, 71.05 percent, or 589 votes, were cast in favor of the bond while 240 votes, or 28.95 percent, were cast in opposition. The bond, if passed, would fund the construction of a new jail, sheriff's office and courtroom as part of a law-enforcement center. The county's old jail would be demolished. The jail is reaching its 110-inmate capacity, and a new facility would nearly double that to 200 inmates, according to county planning documents. Waller County officials have said that if the bond fails, the Texas Commission on Jail Standards could close the existing facility, which is outdated, and require Waller County to house inmates at other county jails. This story will be updated as information becomes available.