Student elections may be held alongside certain elections, but they must follow set timing, officer, notice, and funding rules.
Sec. 276.007. STUDENT ELECTION AUTHORIZED. (a) An election for the participation of students in kindergarten through 12th grade may be held in conjunction with a general, special, or primary election as provided by this section. (b) A student election may be ordered by: (1) the commissioners court, for a student election held in conjunction with an election ordered by the governor or a county authority; (2) the governing body of a political subdivision, for a student election held in conjunction with an election of the political subdivision; or (3) the county executive committee, for a student election held in conjunction with a primary election. (c) A student election may be held only on election day or the day before election day. (d) The authority ordering a student election shall specify in the order each grade that may participate in the election. A student in a specified grade may enter a precinct polling place for the purpose of casting an unofficial ballot in the student election on the same offices and measures that appear on the official ballot. (e) The authority ordering a student election shall make the results of that election available to the public but only after the polling places are closed on election day. (f) The election officers serving in the official election may not serve in the student election. The authority ordering a student election shall appoint a separate set of election officers to conduct the student election, supervise the participating students, and tabulate and report the results of that election. (g) Expenses incurred in the conduct of a student election, including any personnel expenses, may be paid only from private grant funds or donations. (h) The secretary of state shall prescribe any procedures necessary to implement this section and ensure that the conduct of a student election does not affect the proper and efficient conduct of a general, special, or primary election. Added by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 887, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1991.