AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A plan in Tarrant County, one of Texas' largest counties, to reduce the number of polling locations for the upcoming November midterm elections has prompted protests from Democrats. They argue that the reduction could lead to confusion among voters. The proposal, which is scheduled for a vote on Tuesday, aims to cut the number of polling sites, citing the elimination of low-turnout locations as a means to save resources. County officials have stated that voters will still have access to over 200 polling locations.
Tarrant County, which borders Dallas and includes Fort Worth, has a population exceeding 2 million and is considered a key battleground in the U.S. Senate race between Democratic state Representative James Talarico and Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton. Talarico has publicly urged the county to reject the proposal, stating, "The most powerful people in this county, the most powerful people in this country, don't want us to be able to vote easily."
If the plan is approved, Tarrant County would have 92 fewer polling locations on Election Day compared to the 2022 midterms. County elections officials noted that the trend of closing polling locations is not new and has been influenced by the adoption of countywide voting sites and challenges in recruiting poll workers. Some Texas counties have also considered or implemented reductions in polling locations for the November elections, while others have added more.
Republican Representative Matt Shaheen, chairman of the House Elections Committee, stated, "We're clearly not trying to suppress the vote. That's a silly accusation." Tarrant County Elections Administrator Clint Ludwig indicated that the reductions would focus on locations that serve few voters.
According to a county statement, polling locations near bus stops that comply with federal accessibility laws were prioritized to remain open, with the average distance between Election Day sites under the plan being 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers). Tarrant County Judge Tim O'Hare, a Republican, emphasized that the plan avoids the "wasteful practice of placing polling sites directly across the street from one another."
The NAACP and the American Civil Liberties Union, along with other voting rights groups, have urged the county to reject the proposal, arguing that the closures would disproportionately impact areas with high percentages of minority voters. Census data indicates that approximately one-third of the county's residents are Hispanic, and about 19.2% are Black.
Bastrop County Elections Administrator Kristin Miles noted that reducing polling sites could be reasonable based on usage, mentioning that rural areas with low voter turnout may not require multiple sites. Carol Raburn, an election judge in Tarrant County, criticized the proposal as a form of voter suppression, stating, "Because what happens when people don't have a convenient place to go vote that's not too far away from where they are, where they live? They just don't go vote because they've made it so difficult."
Wilder is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.