If a political subdivision receives certification for unopposed candidates, its governing body must declare them elected, and the election is not held.
Sec. 2.053. ACTION ON CERTIFICATION. (a) On receipt of the certification, the governing body of the political subdivision by order or ordinance shall declare each unopposed candidate elected to the office. If no election is to be held on election day by the political subdivision, a copy of the order or ordinance shall be posted on election day at each polling place used or that would have been used in the election. (b) If a declaration is made under Subsection (a), the election is not held. (c) The ballots used at a separate election held at the same time as an election that would have been held if the candidates were not declared elected under this section shall include the offices and names of the candidates declared elected under this section listed separately after the measures or contested races in the separate election under the heading "Unopposed Candidates Declared Elected." The candidates shall be grouped in the same relative order prescribed for the ballot generally. No votes are cast in connection with the candidates. (d) The secretary of state by rule may prescribe any additional procedures necessary to accommodate a particular voting system or ballot style and to facilitate the efficient and cost-effective implementation of this section. (e) A certificate of election shall be issued to each candidate in the same manner and at the same time as provided for a candidate elected at the election. The candidate must qualify for the office in the same manner as provided for a candidate elected at the election. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 667, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. Amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1316, Sec. 4, eff. Sept. 1, 2003. Amended by: Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 1235 (S.B. 1970), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2009. Acts 2021, 87th Leg., 2nd C.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 1), Sec. 3.01, eff. December 2, 2021.