Texas § EL.42.0051 - COMBINING CERTAIN PRECINCTS

§ EL.42.0051. COMBINING CERTAIN PRECINCTS

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. (b) A combined precinct under Subsection (a) is subject to the maximum population prescribed for a precinct under Section 42.006 . (c) In a county that does not participate in the countywide polling place program described by Section 43.007 , for a general or special election for which use of county election precincts is required, the commissioner's court on the recommendation of the county election board, or for a primary election for which use of county election precincts is required, the county executive committee of a political party conducting the primary election, may 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) A combined precinct under Subsection (c) may not contain more than 10,000 registered voters. (e) 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 . Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 205, Sec. 1, eff. May 19, 1993. Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1350, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997. Amended by: Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1085 (S.B. 924 ), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2023. Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1085 (S.B. 924 ), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2023. Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 144 (S.B. 985 ), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2025. Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1184 (S.B. 2753 ), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2025.