The Hays County Commissioners Court on March 13 approved county election precinct boundaries, which will allow voter registration cards to be finalized and mailed to residents.

The Commissioners Court had approved election precinct boundaries in September and again in December, but adjustments to boundaries were necessitated by changes in redistricting maps ordered by federal courts.

Hays County Elections Administrator Joyce Cowan said the new maps show only very slight changes compared to the maps commissioners approved in December.

"The site change was in the Kyle area, having to do with commissioner and precinct 1 and 2 boundaries. We had a little bit of a problem in a small area that overlapped into our constable and JP jurisdictions," she said. "The areas involve a very, very small population. One area had one person."

Cowan said there are now 49 precincts in Hays County, up from 36, though two of the new areas have populations of zero.

"We have one precinct that we show—[and] nothing's 100 percent—one precinct we show with a population of 18. Then we have some precincts with less than 100 [people]," she said.

Precincts are added or adjusted to ensure that each commissioner represents the same size population. Complicating the process are similar requirements related to senatorial and congressional districts, and those for justices of the peace and constables.

Cowan said officials are working to make the maps and districts as clear as possible for voters.

The elections department is preparing for two upcoming elections—with just one day separating the close of voting for the May 12 contest and the start of early voting for the statewide primary May 29.

Early voting for the May 12 election is April 30–May 8. Early voting for the primary begins May 14. Election officials must have military and overseas ballots in the mail by April 14, and all voter registration certificates mailed by April 25.

Copies of the map showing the new precincts are available at all county commissioner offices; at the first-floor rotunda of the County Courthouse, 111 E. San Antonio St. in San Marcos; and at the Elections Department at the Government Center, 712 S. Stagecoach Trail in San Marcos.

It is also available on the Hays County website under the "Government" tab, via "Elections & Voting."

Citizens who are currently registered to vote will automatically be mailed new voter certificates to replace the ones that expired Dec. 31, 2011.

Residents who have changed their name or address should contact the Hays County Voter Registration Department or call 393-7310 to update their information.

Residents must register by April 30 to vote in the May 29 primary election.

For more information about voting, including to find out if someone is already registered, visit www.votetexas.gov.