A plan in one of Texas’ largest counties to use dozens fewer polling locations than in previous years is drawing protests from Democrats who say the reductions could create confusion in the November elections. Tarrant County, which borders Dallas and includes Fort Worth, is home to more than 2 million people and is a key battleground in the U.S. Senate race between Democratic state Rep. James Talarico and Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton.
Tarrant County Elections Administrator proposed 224 potential Election Day and 47 early voting polling places
The Tarrant County elections administrator proposed 224 potential Election Day and 47 early voting polling places for the upcoming election. This followed a contentious August meeting where commissioners delayed a vote on a previous proposal that would have slashed the number of sites from 316 in 2022 to 176. The newly proposed plan adds 48 additional Election Day polling locations to that previous proposal, including 12 in each commissioner’s precinct, and adds five additional early voting locations. While the new plan exceeds the minimum Election Day polling locations by 54 sites, it remains 92 fewer than the number used during the 2022 midterms.
Clint Ludwig has said the reductions would allow the county to eliminate locations that serve few people
Tarrant County Elections Administrator Clint Ludwig has said the reductions would allow the county to eliminate locations that serve few people, noting that the county should not be paying for sites where fewer than 20 people vote. The voting site with the lowest turnout in 2022, Kingdom Manifers Church in southeast Fort Worth, saw only 37 voters on Election Day. County officials stated that locations near bus stops that complied with federal accessibility laws were prioritized to remain open, and the average distance between Election Day sites under the plan is 1.5 miles.
Tarrant County Judge Tim O’Hare, a Republican, has defended the plan, stating that he has maintained from the very beginning that no Tarrant County voter should ever feel they lack sufficient time to cast their ballot, adding that this is a reasonable plan intended to guarantee that outcome and that he appreciates the efforts of the elections staff in achieving this result. O’Hare further stated that all of this is being accomplished without the wasteful practice of placing polling sites directly across the street from one another.
The NAACP and the American Civil Liberties Union joined voting rights groups in signing a letter
The proposal has faced organized opposition. On Friday, the NAACP and the American Civil Liberties Union joined voting rights groups in signing a letter urging the county to reject the proposal, citing concerns that closures would be strongly felt in areas with high percentages of minority voters. Approximately a third of the county’s residents are Hispanic, and about 19.2% are Black. Carol Raburn, who worked the March primaries as an election judge in Tarrant County, characterized the proposal as a form of voter suppression, explaining that when people lack a convenient and accessible place to vote near their homes, they simply do not vote because the process has been made too difficult.
Commissioner Alisa Simmons of Arlington, a Democrat, has been vocal in her criticism, sending campaign emails blaming Republicans on the court for the proposed cuts. Simmons stated in the emails that either Tim O’Hare knew that a proposal to eliminate almost half of the county’s voting locations was moving forward and failed to intervene, or, if his word is to be believed, he was unaware of what was transpiring within the very government he is tasked with leading, asserting that neither explanation is acceptable.
Commissioner Matt Krause of Keller, a Republican, defended the administrative process, noting that Ludwig had examined each site with thoughtfulness. Krause stated that the county remains a responsible steward of taxpayer funds, utilizes polling sites efficiently, and ensures that every registered voter in Tarrant County will have access to the ballot box for the upcoming general election.
Commissioners are scheduled to consider the new plan during their Sept. 1 meeting. Early voting is scheduled to run from Oct. 19-30.