Local Government Code § 71.023

Sec. 71.023. ELECTION OF COUNTY OFFICERS. (a) Before one month before the date of the next scheduled general election after a new county is established, the county judge of the county from which the new county is taken shall order an election for county officers to be held in the new county on the general election day. The order shall specify the number of precincts, the precinct boundaries, and the officers to be elected in the new county. (b) The county judge shall appoint a presiding officer to hold the election at each designated place in the new county. Each presiding officer shall hold the election in accordance with the state election laws and shall make the returns to the county judge who ordered the election. (c) The county judge shall open and examine the returns, issue certificates of election to the persons elected, and approve the bonds of the elected officers. (d) If the office of county judge is vacant, any two of the county commissioners may perform the duties required of the county judge under this section. Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.