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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to authorizing certain election precincts to consolidate. |
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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: COMBINING CERTAIN PRECINCTS. (a) If changes in |
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county election precinct boundaries to give effect to a |
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redistricting plan result in county election precincts with a |
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number of registered voters less than 500, a commissioners court |
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for a general or special election, or for a primary election the |
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county executive committee of a political party conducting a |
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primary election, may combine county election precincts |
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notwithstanding Section 42.005 to avoid unreasonable expenditures |
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for election equipment, supplies, and personnel. |
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[(b) County election precincts in a county with a population |
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of 250,000 or more may also be combined under Subsection (a) if the |
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changes result in county election precincts with 500 or more but |
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fewer than 750 registered voters. |
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(cb) A combined precinct under this section is subject to the |
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maximum population prescribed for a precinct under Section 42.006. |
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(dc) 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. Chapter 42 of the Election Code is amended by |
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adding Section 42.0052, Election Code, to read as follows: |
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COMBINING CERTAIN PRECINCTS IN LARGE COUNTIES |
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(a) In an election for which use of county election |
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precincts is required in a county with a population of at least |
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150,000, but not greater than 1.2 million, the commissioners court |
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may consolidate, on the recommendation of the county election |
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board, two or more county election precincts into a single |
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precinct, not withstanding Section 42.005, if the polling place is |
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located so it will adequately serve the voters of the consolidated |
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precinct. |
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(1) A consolidated precinct under this section cannot |
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exceed 10,000 active registered voters. |
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(b) 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 3. (a) Subject to Subsection (b) of this section, |
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this Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |
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(b) This Act takes effect only if legislation proposed by |
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the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023, relating to the use of |
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banning public schools as polling places is enacted and becomes |
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law. If legislation described by this section is not enacted or does |
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not become law, this Act has no effect. |