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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the combination of certain election precincts. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 42.0051, Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 42.0051. COMBINING CERTAIN PRECINCTS. (a) If changes |
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in county election precinct boundaries to give effect to a |
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redistricting plan result in county election precincts with fewer |
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than 500 registered voters, a commissioners court for a general or |
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special election, or for a primary election the county executive |
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committee of a political party conducting a primary election, may |
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combine county election precincts notwithstanding Section 42.005 |
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to avoid unreasonable expenditures for election equipment, |
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supplies, and personnel [This section applies only to a county with |
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a population of less than 1.2 million that does not participate in |
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the countywide polling place program described by Section 43.007]. |
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(b) County election precincts in a county with a population |
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of not less than 250,000 may also be combined under Subsection (a) |
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if the changes result in county election precincts with not fewer |
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than 500 and not more than 750 registered voters. |
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(c) [(a-1)] In a general or special election for which use |
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of county election precincts is required, the commissioner's court |
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of a county with a population of less than 1.2 million that does not |
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participate in the countywide polling place program described by |
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Section 43.007 may, on the recommendation of the county election |
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board, combine county election precincts notwithstanding Section |
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42.005 if: |
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(1) the commissioners court cannot secure a suitable |
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polling place location under Section 43.031; and |
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(2) the location of the combined polling place |
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adequately serves the voters of the combined precinct. |
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(d) A combined precinct under Subsection (a) or (b) is |
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subject to the maximum population prescribed for a precinct under |
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Section 42.006. |
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(e) [(c)] A combined precinct under Subsection (c) [this |
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section] may not contain more than 10,000 registered voters. |
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(f) [(d)] A combined precinct may not be established if it: |
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(1) results in a dilution of voting strength of a group |
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covered by the federal Voting Rights Act (42 U.S.C. Section 1973c et |
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seq.); |
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(2) results in a dilution of representation of a group |
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covered by the Voting Rights Act in any political or electoral |
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process or procedure; or |
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(3) results in discouraging participation by a group |
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covered by the Voting Rights Act in any political or electoral |
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process or procedure because of the location of a polling place or |
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other factors. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect on the 91st day after the |
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last day of the legislative session. |