Tarrant County commissioners voted 3-2 on September 1, 2026, to approve a list of polling sites for the upcoming November elections, which includes 92 fewer sites than were available during the 2022 midterms. The decision followed testimony from over 100 speakers, most of whom opposed the reduction, during an eight-hour meeting. Voting rights advocates and representatives from 30 civic groups protested outside the county courthouse, urging commissioners to maintain the same number of sites as in 2022.
The approved list features 224 sites for Election Day and 47 for early voting, compared to 316 Election Day sites and 50 early voting sites in 2022. County elections administrator Clint Ludwig, who proposed the reduction, stated, "I’m confident that what is proposed is going to give everybody that wants to vote the opportunity to vote."
The vote was split along party lines, with Republicans — County Judge Tim O’Hare and commissioners Matt Krause and Manny Ramirez — supporting the list, while Democratic commissioners Alisa Simmons and Roderick Miles Jr. opposed it. Simmons, who is running against O’Hare for the county judge position, criticized the decision, saying, "It’s not about cost. This is about power. This is very political. This is campaigning from the dais."
Ramirez, who is seeking reelection, expressed a desire for a list that included all sites from 2022, but Ludwig indicated that some sites were unavailable or did not meet statutory requirements. Miles and Simmons proposed revisions to increase the number of sites, but these were rejected by their Republican colleagues. Krause questioned the rationale behind the request for 316 sites, suggesting it was arbitrary and asking why Democrats would not aim for a higher number.
Speakers at the meeting urged commissioners to increase the number of polling locations and to reinstate specific sites, such as the Maverick Activity Center at the University of Texas at Arlington. Brianna Brown, executive director of the Texas Organizing Project, emphasized the importance of voting, stating, "We understand the power of the vote. We are deciding whether to preserve our democracy or continue to crumble it."
Tarrant County has over 1.3 million registered voters, and local leaders from both parties have characterized the November elections as crucial. Historically a Republican stronghold, the county has shown signs of shifting political dynamics, with recent elections indicating increased support for Democratic candidates.
In a related development, Dallas County commissioners proposed 85 early voting sites and 448 Election Day sites during their meeting on the same day. Ludwig explained that the proposed polling locations were chosen based on past voting patterns and operational standards, including accessibility requirements.
Following the vote, attendees expressed their discontent, chanting "shame" in the room. Some speakers, including Cynnamon Hall, argued that the reduction in polling sites disproportionately affected Black and brown neighborhoods, while others, like Joan Gonzalez, supported the proposal for cost-cutting reasons. Emeri Callaway, vice president of the Tarrant County Young Democrats, called for the restoration of the proposed sites, particularly for college students.
The commissioners had initially planned to finalize the voting sites in early August but decided to postpone the decision until September after acknowledging that the initial proposal included too few sites. The August meeting also featured numerous speakers advocating against the reduction in polling locations, citing population growth since the last midterms.