A contestee in a contest of a general or special election must file an answer to the contestant's petition not later than 10 a.m. of the 10th day after the date of service of citation on the contestee or 10 a.m. of the fifth day after the date the official result in the contested race is determined, whichever is later. The citation must command the contestee to answer by the specified deadline.
Tex. Elec. Code § 232.010