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Elections
Elections
Counties play a vital role in administering elections in Texas. Key responsibilities include:
- Election administration: The Secretary of State serves as the chief election officer, providing guidance and support to county election officials to ensure proper conduct of elections.
- Primary elections: County election officers coordinate with local political party chairs to determine whether to hold joint primary elections. They discuss logistics such as precinct consolidation, appointing election judges and clerks, and selecting voting systems and ballot formats.
- Polling places: Counties establish polling locations, ensuring at least one polling place per election precinct, as required by the Texas Election Code.
- Voter registration: County registrars process voter applications and maintain accurate voter rolls to ensure eligible voters can participate in elections.
- Early voting: Counties set up designated locations and oversee early voting to provide accessible voting opportunities before Election Day.
- Election security: County officials implement measures to prevent voter fraud and ensure accurate vote counting. Their election integrity efforts include maintaining up-to-date voter rolls and verifying voter eligibility.
By fulfilling these duties, counties help ensure elections in Texas are conducted efficiently, fairly and in accordance with state law.
2025 Elections Bill Track
Resources:
Texas Secretary of State – Elections
Texas Secretary of State – County Election Officials
Vote Texas – Election Information for Voters
Texas State Law Library – Voting in Texas