County adjusts voting precinct boundaries, adding two precincts effective Jan. 1, 2026

Ellis County Commissioners Court approved changes to voting‑precinct boundaries to create two new precincts effective Jan. 1, 2026, after the county elections administrator reported two precincts had exceeded the active‑voter threshold in state law.

Elections Administrator Jana Onion told the court that state law requires review of precincts every odd year and that two precincts had grown to about or above 5,000 active registered voters. To comply with Texas Election Code chapter 42, the office proposed splitting Precinct 1006 and Precinct 1038 along major roads to create new precincts (new precinct numbers 1060 and 1061 were cited in discussion). The changes were designed to avoid changing justice‑of‑the‑peace boundaries and to split voters evenly; the new precincts will be reflected on voter registration cards that county voters receive in January 2026.

Court action Commissioner Stinson moved to approve the boundary changes and Commissioner Ponder seconded; the motion carried by voice vote.

Why it matters State law limits active registered voters in a precinct to maintain manageable precinct sizes for administration and polling; the change preserves compliance and reduces administrative strain on election operations.

Next steps County elections will post maps online, run the required newspaper notices, and mail new voter registration cards to affected voters ahead of the January 1, 2026 effective date.