Fort Worth, Texas — Officials in Tarrant County will vote Tuesday on a proposal to reduce the number of Election Day polling places, drawing opposition from voting-rights groups and Democrats ahead of a closely watched U.S. Senate race.
The plan would eliminate 92 locations compared with the 2022 midterms while leaving more than 200 sites available across the county. Republican County Judge Tim O’Hare has argued the changes would eliminate low-turnout or duplicative locations and reduce unnecessary costs.
The NAACP and American Civil Liberties Union urged commissioners Friday to reject the proposal, warning that fewer locations could create confusion and disproportionately affect Black and Hispanic voters. Tarrant County, which includes Fort Worth, has more than 2 million residents and is Texas’ third-largest county.
Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico also criticized the proposal Sunday. He is challenging Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton in a race that has become increasingly competitive.
County Elections Administrator Clint Ludwig has said officials prioritized sites near public transportation and locations that meet accessibility requirements.
The debate follows an earlier proposal that would have reduced Election Day sites from 316 in 2022 to 176. Commissioners delayed action on that plan in August after substantial public opposition.
Texas law gives individual counties broad discretion over how many polling locations to operate, and counties across the state have taken different approaches as they prepare for November.
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