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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 42.006(a), Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) Except as [otherwise] provided by this section and |
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Section 42.0051, a county election precinct must contain at least |
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100 but not more than 5,000 registered voters. |
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SECTION 2. Section 42.0051, Election Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsections (a) and (c) and adding Subsection (a-1) to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) This section applies only to a county with a population |
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of less than 1.2 million. |
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(a-1) In a general or special election for which use of |
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county election precincts is required, the commissioner's court [If |
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changes in 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, on the recommendation of the county |
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election board, combine county election precincts notwithstanding |
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Section 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 [to avoid |
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unreasonable expenditures for election equipment, supplies, and |
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personnel]. |
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(c) A combined precinct under this section may not contain |
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more than 10,000 registered voters [is subject to the maximum |
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population prescribed for a precinct under Section 42.006]. |
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SECTION 3. Section 42.0051(b), Election Code, is repealed. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |