Applaud Tarrant County Voters Fighting Polling Place Cuts

Four Tarrant County voters have filed an emergency lawsuit challenging plans to eliminate dozens of Election Day polling locations ahead of the November election, arguing that the cuts disproportionately burden Black and Hispanic communities.

Tarrant County plans to operate 224 Election Day voting locations this year, down from 316 during the 2022 midterms—a net reduction of 92 polling places. The plan was approved by the county commissioners in a 3-2 vote last month.

The plaintiffs point to several heavily nonwhite communities that would experience substantial reductions. All three polling locations used in 2022 were eliminated in ZIP code 76103, where 78.7% of residents are nonwhite, while four of five sites were eliminated in ZIP code 76115, where 89.3% of residents are nonwhite.

The voters also allege that county officials failed to follow their own methodology for choosing which polling places to retain. Their lawsuit identifies 46 eliminated locations where more than 500 ballots were cast on Election Day in 2022, even though the county’s stated methodology said locations exceeding that threshold would be placed on its “keep list.”

Add your name to applaud the Tarrant County voters challenging the polling-place reductions and asking the court to review the county’s plan before Election Day!