Tarrant County Finds 92 Polling Places It Can Do Without

FORT WORTH—Tarrant County approved 92 fewer Election Day polling sites than it used in the 2022 midterms, offering residents a streamlined selection of places to exercise the same right. The September 1 vote leaves 224 Election Day locations and 47 early-voting sites, compared with 316 and 50 four years ago.

Republicans on the commissioners court supported the plan 3–2 over Democratic opposition. More than 100 people spoke during an eight-hour meeting, most opposing the reductions. The county has preserved an extensive opportunity to comment on the availability of opportunities to vote.

Elections administrator Clint Ludwig said some previous sites were unavailable or did not meet requirements. He defended a plan based on past voting patterns, operational standards and disability access. Those are legitimate considerations. They explain why an individual site might change; they do not, by themselves, tell every resident whether the replacement journey will be convenient.

An earlier proposal offered only 176 Election Day sites. The approved 224 therefore represents an increase over the county’s proposed reduction and a decrease from the previous midterm election. Officials and critics have been supplied with different starting points for their arithmetic, a useful administrative accommodation.

The practical result is a new list, not the elimination of voting. Nor does the decision establish in advance what turnout or waiting times will be. The county is confident that the remaining sites can serve the electorate. Residents will provide the field test, including the travel time that does not appear in a count of locations.