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 a number of registered voters less than 500, 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) County election precincts in a county with a population of 250,000 or more may also be combined under Subsection (a) if the changes result in county election precincts with 500 or more but fewer than 750 registered voters.
(c) A combined precinct under this section is subject to the maximum population prescribed for a precinct under Section 42.006.
(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.
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.
Structure Texas Statutes
Title 4 - Time and Place of Elections
Chapter 42 - Election Precincts
Subchapter A. County Election Precincts
Section 42.001. Precincts Established by Commissioners Court
Section 42.002. Required Use of County Precincts
Section 42.003. Boundary Description
Section 42.004. Precinct Identification
Section 42.005. Relationship to Districts and Justice and Commissioners Precincts
Section 42.0051. Combining Certain Precincts
Section 42.006. Population Requirements
Section 42.007. Combining Incorporated and Unincorporated Territory
Section 42.008. Consolidating Precincts in Special Election
Section 42.009. Consolidating Precincts in Primary Election
Section 42.010. Recommendation on Elimination of Less Populous Precincts