bill spreading polling places evenly in big counties

The text as introduced · 573 words

89R15641 MLH-F

By: Swanson
H.B. No. 5256

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the number of polling places in certain counties.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 43.007, Election Code, is amended by

amending Subsection (m) and adding Subsection (m-1) to read as

follows:

(m) In adopting a methodology under Subsection (f), the

county must ensure that:

(1) each county commissioners precinct contains at

least one countywide polling place; [ and ]

(2) the total number of polling places open for voting

in a county commissioners precinct does not exceed more than twice

the number of polling places in another county commissioners

precinct ; and

(3) in a county with a population of more than 1

million, the number of polling places within the boundary of a state

representative district may not differ from the number of polling

places within the boundary of another state representative district

in the county by more than one .

(m-1) For purposes of Subsection (m)(3), a state

representative district located in more than one county shall have

a number of polling places required by that subdivision reduced in

proportion to the number of qualified voters from that state

representative district who reside in the county, as determined by

the secretary of state.

SECTION 2. Section 85.062, Election Code, is amended by

amending Subsection (d) and adding Subsection (e) to read as

follows:

(d) In a primary election, the general election for state

and county officers, or a special election to fill a vacancy in the

legislature or in congress:

(1) the commissioners court of a county with a

population of 1 million [ 400,000 ] or more shall establish one or

more early voting polling places other than the main early voting

polling place in each state representative district containing

territory covered by the election, except that :

(A) the polling place or places shall be

established in the state senatorial or congressional district, as

applicable, in a special election to fill a vacancy in the office of

state senator or United States representative; and

(B) the number of early voting polling places

within the boundary of a state representative district may not

differ from the number of early voting polling places within the

boundary of another state representative district in the county by

more than one;

(2) the commissioners court of a county with a

population of 120,000 or more but less than 1 million [ 400,000 ]

shall establish one or more early voting polling places other than

the main early voting polling place in each commissioners precinct

containing territory covered by the election; and

(3) the early voting clerk of a county with a

population of 100,000 or more but less than 120,000 shall establish

one or more early voting polling places as described by Subdivision

(2) in each precinct for which the early voting clerk receives in

time to enable compliance with Section 85.067 a written request for

that action submitted by at least 15 registered voters of that

precinct.

(e) For purposes of Subsection (d)(1)(B), a state

representative district located in more than one county shall have

a number of polling places required by that paragraph reduced in

proportion to the number of qualified voters from that state

representative district who reside in the county, as determined by

the secretary of state.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.