Texas primaries set for May 29
by KJCE Staff
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posted Mar 1 2012 11:42PM
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A federal court in San Antonio on Thursday ordered the State of Texas to hold its primary elections on May 29, the Tuesday following Memorial Day. The move comes two days after the same three judge panel released new political maps to be used in the 2012 elections.
Minority groups had sued the state to block the original maps created by the Texas Legislature, on the grounds that the maps either illegally divided minority voters or grouped them into a handful of districts in order to diminish their power. A separate federal court in Washington, D.C., also refused to certify the maps because of potential Voting Rights Act violations.
The legal challenges caused the Texas primary to be delayed twice; first from its original date of March 6, then from April 3. The new election schedule will reopen a filing period for candidates immediately, closing on March 9. Voter registration cards reflecting the new districts will be mailed out on April 25.
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