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Amid public outcry, Tarrant County, Texas cuts polling locations ahead of 2026 midterm elections
abcnews.com • • nation
Key Points:
- Tarrant County officials voted to reduce polling locations from 316 in 2022 to 224 for the upcoming elections, sparking public opposition and concerns about voter suppression.
- The five-member Commissioner's Court approved the measure with Republican members supporting and Democratic members opposing the cuts, citing the need to maintain accessible voting opportunities.
- Supporters argue the new number of polling sites meets legal requirements and improves efficiency by eliminating underused or non-compliant locations, while opponents stress the county's growing population requires more, not fewer, voting sites.
- Critics, including local residents and Democratic politicians, warn the reduction will lead to longer travel distances, longer lines, and disproportionately impact Black and Latino communities.
- County officials maintain the updated plan ensures safe, accessible, and secure polling locations, with average distances between sites considered reasonable for voters.
