GALVESTON COUNTY, Texas — A Texas appeals court has declined to block Galveston County’s new precinct boundaries ahead of the November general election, allowing county officials to proceed with the map approved in June.
The Texas Fourteenth Court of Appeals denied an emergency petition Thursday seeking to require county officials to use the previous precinct map. The new boundaries cover precincts for county commissioners, constables and justices of the peace.
The court said the plaintiffs “have not met their burden of proof that no disputed facts exist and the duty they seek to compel is clear.” It did not rule on whether the new map complies with the law.
A Galveston County constable and two residents filed the emergency petition earlier this month after the county redrew and approved the precinct boundaries on June 29, between the March primary and November general elections. The plaintiffs argued that changing precincts during an election year could affect voters and candidates.
The Texas Supreme Court previously rejected the plaintiffs’ request to block the map and directed them to pursue the matter in a lower court first.
Galveston County Judge Mark Henry has said the new boundaries aim to improve the operations of justice of the peace courts, create government cost efficiencies and increase Republican candidates’ chances of winning elections in the county.
The county also continues to face legal challenges over a separate precinct map approved in 2021. Those challenges allege that the earlier map weakened the voting power of Black and Hispanic voters.
With the appeals court’s decision, Galveston County officials can use the 2026 precinct map for the November general election while the broader legal challenges continue.