| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the combination of certain election precincts. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Section 42.0051, Election Code, is amended to |
|
|
read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 42.0051. COMBINING CERTAIN PRECINCTS. (a) If changes |
|
|
in county election precinct boundaries to give effect to a |
|
|
redistricting plan result in county election precincts with fewer |
|
|
than 3,000 registered voters, a commissioners court for a general |
|
|
or special election, or for a primary election the county executive |
|
|
committee of a political party conducting a primary election, may |
|
|
combine county election precincts notwithstanding Section 42.005 |
|
|
to avoid unreasonable expenditures for election equipment, |
|
|
supplies, and personnel [This section applies only to a county with |
|
|
a population of less than 1.2 million that does not participate in |
|
|
the countywide polling place program described by Section 43.007]. |
|
|
(b) A combined precinct under Subsection (a) or (b) is |
|
|
subject to the maximum population prescribed for a precinct under |
|
|
Section 42.006. |
|
|
(c) [(a-1)] In a primary election, the county executive |
|
|
committee of a political party conducting the primary election, or |
|
|
for a general or special election for which use of county election |
|
|
precincts is required, the commissioner's court of a county that |
|
|
does not participate in the countywide polling place program |
|
|
described by Section 43.007 may, on the recommendation of the |
|
|
county election board, combine county election precincts |
|
|
notwithstanding Section 42.005 if: |
|
|
(1) the commissioners court cannot secure a suitable |
|
|
polling place location under Section 43.031; and |
|
|
(2) the location of the combined polling place |
|
|
adequately serves the voters of the combined precinct. |
|
|
(d) [(c)] A combined precinct under Subsection (c) [this |
|
|
section] may not contain more than 10,000 registered voters. |
|
|
(e) [(d)] A combined precinct may not be established if it: |
|
|
(1) results in a dilution of voting strength of a group |
|
|
covered by the federal Voting Rights Act (42 U.S.C. Section 1973c et |
|
|
seq.); |
|
|
(2) results in a dilution of representation of a group |
|
|
covered by the Voting Rights Act in any political or electoral |
|
|
process or procedure; or |
|
|
(3) results in discouraging participation by a group |
|
|
covered by the Voting Rights Act in any political or electoral |
|
|
process or procedure because of the location of a polling place or |
|
|
other factors. |
|
|
(f) For the purposes of appointing a presiding election judge |
|
|
and an alternate presiding judge to a county election precinct |
|
|
combined under this section, the combined precinct shall be |
|
|
considered a single precinct and the judges shall be appointed in |
|
|
accordance with the procedures provided under Chapter 32. |
|
|
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |