More than 200,000 Galveston County voter registration cards may be obsolete after a June 29 precinct redraw. The Galveston County Democratic Party is urging League City residents to verify their registration before the Nov. 3 general election.

The Galveston County Daily News reported Monday, Sept. 7, that Loretta Davis, a precinct chair for the county Democratic Party, has fielded multiple calls and texts from voters worried about their registration status. The concern stems from new justice of the peace, constable and commissioner precinct boundaries the Galveston County Commissioners Court approved unanimously on June 29.

Those new lines took effect immediately. They were drawn between the March primary and the November general election, a sequence that Sarah Chen, an attorney at the Texas Civil Rights Project, called unprecedented in an Aug. 18 interview with Houston Public Media. "It creates so much confusion and chaos," Chen said at the time.

The redraw means some voters have been shifted into new precincts. An emergency petition filed Aug. 4 by Precinct 3 Constable Derreck Rose and two county residents argued the new map delays some voters' ability to cast a ballot for two years by moving them into precincts that will not vote again until 2028.

Courts have declined to block the map. The Texas Supreme Court denied the emergency petition and directed plaintiffs to a lower court. On Aug. 21, the Texas Fourteenth Court of Appeals also denied the request, writing that plaintiffs had not shown the facts were undisputed or that the duty they sought to compel was clear. The court did not rule on whether the map itself is legal.

Galveston County Judge Mark Henry, a Republican, said in a June 29 statement to Houston Public Media that the map would improve judicial function and create fiscal efficiencies. Henry said he ran on a promise of "turning Galveston County Republican" and that the new map accomplishes that goal. Henry and all four county commissioners are Republicans, according to Houston Public Media.

The Commissioners Court approved the map after roughly two hours of public comment from residents expressing concern, Houston Public Media reported June 29.

What League City voters should do

The registration deadline for the Nov. 3 election is Oct. 5. Voters can check their status at the Texas Secretary of State's "Am I Registered" portal or at galvestonvotes.org/voter-registration.

Early voting in League City runs Oct. 19–30 at four locations: League City Annex (174 Calder Dr.), The Crossings (255 N. Egret Bay Blvd.), Public Works Operation Center (1701 W. League City Pkwy.) and Hometown Heroes Park (1011 E. League City Pkwy.).

On Election Day, Nov. 3, seven League City sites will be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., including the League City Civic Center at 400 W. Walker St., Magnolia Creek at 4751 W. League City and the Education Support Center at 2425 E. Main St. A full list is available at galvestonvotes.org.