Sec. 272.003.  EXEMPT ELECTION PRECINCTS.  (a)  An election precinct to which Section 272.002 applies may be exempted from the bilingual requirement as provided by this section if official census information or other information indicates that persons of Spanish origin or descent comprise less than five percent of the precinct's inhabitants.
(b)  To exempt an election precinct from the bilingual requirement, the presiding officer of the governing body of the political subdivision responsible for the expenses of an election, with the approval of the governing body, must file with the authority responsible for procuring the election supplies for the political subdivision's elections:
(1)  a written certification by the presiding officer that the precinct qualifies for the exemption;
(2)  a written summary of the official census information or other information relied on to support the exemption;
(3)  a map or maps indicating the precinct's boundary and the boundaries of the census enumeration areas referred to in the summary;  and
(4)  an authenticated copy of the resolution or other official action showing the governing body's approval of the exemption.
(c)  An exemption is effective on the 30th day after the date the certification and other materials required by Subsection (b) are filed.
(d)  In a primary election, each county election precinct that has been exempted under this section is exempt.  If an election precinct that qualifies for exemption is not certified as exempt before the 60th day before primary election day, the secretary of state may exempt the precinct for the primary election by filing the certification and other materials as provided by Subsection (b).
(e)  A precinct exempted under this section remains exempt until:
(1)  the precinct becomes subject to Section 272.002 as a result of a subsequent federal decennial census;  or
(2)  the effective date of a change in the precinct's boundary.
Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 211, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1986.