Tarrant County Reduces Polling Sites Ahead of Midterm Elections

Officials in Tarrant County, Texas, voted on Tuesday to reduce the number of polling sites for the upcoming midterm elections, resulting in 92 fewer locations compared to the 2022 elections. This decision, made by the Tarrant County Commissioners Court, leaves the county with 224 polling sites for approximately 1.3 million voters, marking a reduction of about 30%. The three Republican commissioners supported the plan, while the two Democratic commissioners opposed it. Research indicates that increased travel time to polling locations can negatively impact voter participation, and advocacy groups such as the NAACP and the ACLU of Texas expressed concerns that the changes would disproportionately affect voters of color, particularly in majority-minority areas of Fort Worth and Arlington. Supporters of the reduction argue that it will save money and that there are sufficient voting options available. The decision comes amid a competitive Senate race in Texas, with Democratic candidate James Talarico challenging Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton. Talarico criticized the plan, stating that it would hinder voting accessibility. The county has seen significant population growth and increased voter participation in recent years, prompting concerns from residents about the impact of the cuts. Tarrant County Judge Tim O’Hare defended the decision, suggesting that some polling places had low usage and required considerable resources. The Texas law allows counties to determine the number of polling sites, and some have opted for fewer locations in recent years as part of a move toward countywide voting.