This section allows certain election authorities to agree to run elections jointly when the elections are on the same day in the same county, and requires the agreement terms to be formally recorded and preserved.
Sec. 271.002. JOINT ELECTIONS AUTHORIZED. (a) If the elections ordered by the authorities of two or more political subdivisions are to be held on the same day in all or part of the same county, the governing bodies of the political subdivisions may enter into an agreement to hold the elections jointly in the election precincts that can be served by common polling places, subject to Section 271.003. (b) If an election ordered by the governor and the elections ordered by the authorities of one or more political subdivisions are to be held on the same day in all or part of the same county, the commissioners court of a county in which the election ordered by the governor is to be held and the governing bodies of the other political subdivisions may enter into an agreement to hold the elections jointly in the election precincts that can be served by common polling places, subject to Section 271.003. (c) If another law requires two or more political subdivisions to hold a joint election, the governing body of any other political subdivision holding an election on the same day in all or part of the same county in which the joint election is to be held may enter into an agreement to participate in the joint election with the governing bodies of the political subdivisions holding the joint election. (d) The terms of a joint election agreement must be stated in an order, resolution, or other official action adopted by the governing body of each participating political subdivision. (e) The document containing the joint election agreement shall be preserved for the period for preserving the precinct election records. Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 211, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1986. Amended by: Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 1235 (S.B. 1970), Sec. 24, eff. September 1, 2009.