San Patricio commissioners rescind March order to divide Precinct 115 after election-office review

The San Patricio County Commissioners Court voted to rescind an order issued in March to divide Election Precinct 115, after the county election administrator explained the legal distinction between active and registered voters and reported that the precinct fell below the statutory active-voter threshold.

The election administrator (identified in the record as Miss Hill) told the court the Election Code's threshold is based on active voters, not total registered voters, and that the precinct's count of registered voters (5,065) included a large number placed in "suspense" status because mailings were returned or addresses appear to be outdated. Hill said about 165 voters in Precinct 115 were in suspense, which reduces the precinct's active-voter total below the 5,000 threshold. She said election attorneys with the Secretary of State recommended rescinding the March order and reassessing precinct boundaries in two years when the court next reviews precinct divisions.

Commissioner Sikorsky moved to rescind the March order dividing Precinct 115; the motion was seconded by Commissioner Gillette Smith. The court voted to rescind the order; the judge announced the motion carried.

Court officials said the recommendation from Secretary of State staff, and the classification of voters as "active" or "suspense," guided the decision to rescind and delay any division until the next mandatory review period.