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Elections staff brief court on precinct changes after congressional redistricting affecting 43% of voters
Summary
Elections officials told the court precinct boundaries must be updated to eliminate precincts that cross more than one congressional district under recently passed maps; staff said changes affect roughly 43% of registered voters and must be implemented to meet filing and mailout deadlines even as litigation proceeds.
Elections staff briefed the Commissioners Court about precinct-level changes required by the 89th Legislature’s congressional redistricting maps. Michelle Carew (elections administrator) and John Fisher explained that approximately 449 voting precincts were affected and that 43% of registered voters could be impacted by the congressional-district changes. Staff said the Secretary of State advised moving forward to meet filing and voter registration card mailout deadlines.
Commissioners asked about litigation risk if maps are challenged and whether the county would revert changes if a court later invalidated the maps; elections staff said federal courts typically implement adopted maps pending litigation and that the county needs to act to ensure correct precinct assignments for candidate filing periods and card mailings. The court adopted a narrowly worded motion limited to changes required by Texas Election Code §42.005 tied to the congressional redistricting.
