Tarrant County Officials to Cut Early Voting and Election Sites

Tarrant County Commission Votes on Major Reduction in Voting Locations

Tarrant County commissioners are set to make a significant decision regarding the number of early voting and Election Day polling locations. The proposed plan aims to cut the number of early voting sites by more than half, from 51 to 24, and reduce Election Day locations from 349 to 214. This change has sparked concerns among some commissioners and local residents about potential voter suppression and confusion.

The upcoming vote is expected to draw considerable attention, with opponents actively trying to mobilize support against the proposal. FOX 4 reached out to all Tarrant County commissioners to see if they wished to comment ahead of the meeting. However, the agenda was released only recently, leaving some commissioners still reviewing the details.

Commissioner Alisa Simmons, a Democrat representing Precinct One, has been working over the weekend to have this specific agenda item postponed. She has faced resistance from other members of the commission. Simmons expressed frustration over the lack of clarity regarding how the election administrators arrived at these numbers.

“This is a critical issue, and I need to understand how and why this decision was made,” said Simmons. She plans to raise these questions during Tuesday’s Commissioner's Court Meeting.

Key Details of the Proposal

The proposal includes reducing early voting locations from 51 to 24 and Election Day locations from 349 to 214 for the upcoming off-year election in November. If approved, these changes would significantly alter the accessibility of voting locations for residents.

Commissioner Simmons described the move as evidence of voter suppression. “This tactic is in the form of impeding and limiting access to the ballot box,” she said. She has not yet received a clear explanation for the drastic reduction in voting locations.

Democrat Precinct One Commissioner Roderick Miles also voiced strong opposition to any actions that could be seen as suppressing voter rights. He stated, “I stand firmly against any actions, policies, or proposals that even resemble voter suppression.”

Republican Precinct Four Commissioner Manny Ramirez echoed similar concerns. He told FOX 4 that he has several questions about the rationale behind the proposal and is looking forward to hearing from the elections administrator.

Historical Context and Public Reaction

This is not the first time a similar proposal has been considered in Tarrant County. Last September, an effort to eliminate early voting sites at several college campuses failed in a 4 to 1 vote at a Special Commissioner Court Meeting. Republican County Judge Tim O’Hare was the only one in favor, arguing that the college locations were too close to other polling sites and that it was a waste of money.

The proposal was ultimately rejected after a four-hour public comment session filled with passionate arguments from residents. Commissioner Simmons expects a similar turnout on Tuesday, warning that the changes could cause significant voter confusion.

“People have grown accustomed to voting at the places they live near or work near,” she said. “This will cause so much disruption.”

Next Steps and Public Involvement

Neither Republican Tarrant County Judge Tim O’Hare’s office nor Republican Commissioner Matt Krause responded to FOX 4’s request for comment. The commissioners' court is scheduled to meet tomorrow at 10 a.m., and the proposal remains on the agenda.

Residents interested in commenting can sign up for public comment during the meeting. The outcome of the vote will have a lasting impact on how voters access their ballots in the upcoming election.