Bill Text: TX HB70 | 2023 | 88th Legislature 4th Special Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the combination of certain election precincts.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-11-07 - Filed [HB70 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-HB70-Introduced.html
| By: Cook | H.B. No. 70 | |
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| 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 500 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 [ |
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| (b) County election precincts in a county with a population | ||
| of not less than 250,000 may also be combined under Subsection (a) | ||
| if the changes result in county election precincts with not fewer | ||
| than 500 and not more than 750 registered voters. | ||
| (c) [ |
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| of county election precincts is required, the commissioner's court | ||
| of 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 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) A combined precinct under Subsection (a) or (b) is | ||
| subject to the maximum population prescribed for a precinct under | ||
| Section 42.006. | ||
| (e) [ |
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| (f) [ |
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| (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. | ||
| SECTION 2. This Act takes effect on the 91st day after the | ||
| last day of the legislative session. | ||
