Voting Rights Groups Sue to Block Galveston County Map Changes

The Campaign Legal Center and the UCLA Voting Rights Project filed an emergency petition with the Texas Supreme Court to block Galveston County from implementing new voting maps for the November general election. The groups allege that county officials intend to use maps passed during a June 28 commissioners court meeting, despite using different maps for the primary elections in March.

Petitioners argue that this mid-election redistricting violates the Texas Constitution, the Texas Election Code, and the Fourteenth Amendment's Equal Protection Clause. They claim the shift nullifies primary votes and prevents candidates from running in new precincts, while potentially displacing voters into areas with different candidates or no election. Bernadette Reyes, counsel for the UCLA Voting Rights Project, stated that redrawing districts in the middle of an election threatens equal representation and confidence in the democratic process.

Galveston County officials defended the decision, stating the interests of the people are best served by changing the existing precinct boundaries for commissioners, constables, and justices of the peace.