By: Cook	H.B. No. 70

	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 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 [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)  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) [(a-1)]  In a general or special election for which use
	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) [(c)]  A combined precinct under Subsection (c) [this
	section] may not contain more than 10,000 registered voters.
	(f) [(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.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect on the 91st day after the
	last day of the legislative session.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Election Code 42.0051 (Election Code 42)