Tarrant County Reduces Polling Locations Ahead of Midterms
Tarrant County’s Commissioners Court made a significant decision to reduce the number of polling places for the upcoming midterm elections. In a close 3-2 vote held on Tuesday, the court agreed to eliminate 92 polling locations from the county’s Election Day map. This decision impacts over 1.3 million registered voters just two months before what is considered a critical election by both political parties.
The revised plan now features 224 Election Day sites and 47 early voting locations, down from 316 and 50, respectively, during the 2022 midterms. This nearly 30% reduction comes despite the county’s continued growth. The decision followed a lengthy eight-hour meeting where more than 100 speakers, mostly opposing the cuts, voiced their opinions, accompanied by a rally of 30 civic groups advocating for maintaining the 2022 level of access.
Republican members of the court, County Judge Tim O’Hare and commissioners Matt Krause and Manny Ramirez, supported the reduction, while Democrats Alisa Simmons and Roderick Miles Jr. voted against it. Simmons, who is also running against O’Hare for county judge, criticized the decision saying, “It’s not about cost. This is about power. This is very political. This is campaigning from the dais.”
The reduction in polling sites has raised concerns about its impact on certain communities. Specific areas, such as the majority-Black and Latino 76104 zip code in Fort Worth, may be left without any polling sites. Voting-rights organizations, including the Legal Defense Fund, the ACLU, and the Campaign Legal Center, have expressed that the plan could disproportionately affect Black, Latino, Asian American, and Pacific Islander voters. Demetria McCain, LDF policy director, described the plan as “a voter suppression tactic designed to impede Black voters and other voters of color from exercising their right to vote at the polls.”
Additionally, the court decided against restoring the Maverick Activity Center at the University of Texas at Arlington as a polling site. This decision has been criticized for potentially making it difficult for students to vote on campus. Although Republicans argued that a nearby county subcourthouse could serve the purpose, critics noted the importance of on-campus polling sites for student voter turnout.
Clint Ludwig, the county elections administrator, defended the new map by stating that it “concentrates locations where voters choose to vote” and meets all accessibility standards. However, concerns remain that fewer polling sites could lead to longer lines and more complex commutes, particularly affecting shift workers and those without vehicles. Democratic U.S. Senate nominee James Talarico noted that the reduction could lead to “longer commutes, longer lines and lower voter turnout, especially in our Black and brown communities.”
This decision is not the first time the county has faced accusations of drawing lines favoring the ruling party. Last year, the court utilized population growth to justify a GOP-friendly redistricting map, while now dismissing the same growth as a reason to maintain or expand polling sites. Commissioner Matt Krause described calls to match 2022’s polling site totals as “arbitrary,” despite the county’s growing population.
In contrast, Dallas County, located just 30 miles away, opted for 448 Election Day locations and 85 early voting sites, demonstrating that a rapidly growing county can prioritize expansive ballot access.
With early voting scheduled from October 19-30, and Election Day on November 3, Tarrant County voters must plan carefully due to the reduced number of polling locations. The deadline for voter registration is October 5.
