The bill amends Section 42.0051 of the Election Code to allow for the combination of certain election precincts under specific conditions. It introduces provisions that permit a commissioners court or a political party's county executive committee to combine precincts if redistricting leads to precincts with fewer than 500 registered voters, thereby avoiding unnecessary costs for election resources. Additionally, it allows counties with populations of at least 250,000 to combine precincts as long as the resulting precincts have between 500 and 750 registered voters. The bill also stipulates that combined precincts must adhere to the maximum population limits set forth in Section 42.006.

The bill removes previous restrictions that limited the application of these provisions to counties with populations under 1.2 million that do not participate in the countywide polling place program. It also clarifies that combined precincts cannot exceed 10,000 registered voters and must not dilute the voting strength or representation of groups protected under the federal Voting Rights Act. The changes aim to enhance the efficiency of election administration while ensuring compliance with voting rights protections. The act is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

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