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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 3,000 registered voters, a commissioners court for a general |
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or 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) A combined precinct under Subsection (a) is subject to |
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the maximum population prescribed for a precinct under Section |
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42.006. |
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(c) [(a-1)] In a county that does not participate in the |
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countywide polling place program described by Section 43.007, for a |
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general or special election for which use of county election |
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precincts is required, the commissioner's court [may,] on the |
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recommendation of the county election board, or for a primary |
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election for which use of county election precincts is required, |
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the county executive committee of a political party conducting the |
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primary election, may combine county election precincts |
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notwithstanding 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. |
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(d) [(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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(e) [(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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(f) For the purposes of appointing a presiding election judge |
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and an alternate presiding judge to a county election precinct |
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combined under this section, the combined precinct shall be |
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considered a single precinct and the judges shall be appointed in |
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accordance with the procedures provided under Chapter 32. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I hereby certify that S.B. No. 985 passed the Senate on |
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April 2, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0; and that |
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the Senate concurred in House amendment on May 12, 2025, by the |
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following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that S.B. No. 985 passed the House, with |
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amendment, on May 7, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 94, |
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Nays 52, two present not voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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Approved: |
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______________________________ |
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Date |
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______________________________ |
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Governor |