The Texas Supreme Court has ruled against Galveston County’s implementation of new voting district boundaries for the upcoming November general election, determining that the county officials improperly altered district lines after the primaries.
In an unsigned opinion, the court emphasized that state law mandates the uniform and consistent conduct of elections across Texas, instructing Galveston County to revert to the precinct maps utilized during the March primary election.
The court dismissed Galveston County’s claim that the state law allows commissioners the discretion to redraw precinct lines “from time to time,” indicating that this does not grant them the authority to decide when such changes can take place.
“The County has identified no historical precedent for a Texas county taking such action, and it has not identified any valid source of legal authority for its action,” the court noted.
The ruling further clarified that while commissioners courts may adjust precincts more frequently than every ten years to accommodate the evolving needs of the population, they are not permitted to undertake redistricting actions that contradict the established uniformity of the electoral process.
Concerns over fairness prompted a Galveston County constable and two residents to file an emergency petition with the Texas Supreme Court, arguing that the revised precinct boundaries would disadvantage voters and candidates amid an ongoing election cycle.
The new district boundaries, affecting positions such as county commissioners, constables, and justices of the peace, were redrawn and approved on June 29.
Galveston County Judge Mark Henry previously stated that the mid-election redistricting aimed to optimize precinct alignment for a more efficient and beneficial setup, which he believed would help maintain the county’s Republican leanings.
However, the Texas Supreme Court expressed that altering political boundaries during an election raises significant constitutional issues.
“A primary election and the corresponding general election are one election for purposes of this principle, which we consider to be foundational to the electoral structure prescribed by our Election Code,” the ruling explained.
While Galveston County will be allowed to implement the new maps after the November elections, the court also noted that separate legal challenges are ongoing to prevent these boundaries from being enforced.
