Precinct 3 Commissioner Matt Krause, Precinct 4 Commissioner Manny Ramirez and Judge Tim O'Hare voted for the elimination of the voting centers, while Precinct 1 Commissioner Roderick Miles and Precinct 2 Commissioner Alisa Simmons voting against the proposition.
In a nutshell
Tarrant County Elections Administrator Clinton Ludwig presented a list of 214 Election Day polling locations for the Nov. 4 general election, down from 331 in 2023, according to county documents. Early voting locations were also reduced from 44 in 2023 to 24 in Ludwig’s new list.
Simmons and Krause added nine locations to the list, bringing the total number of early voting locations up to 33.
After reviewing turnout and operations data, the elections department determined the county needed a minimum of 12 early voting sites to process voters on the busiest day of early voting. Ludwig recommended 24 sites with an option to add more, in an effort to maintain access to voting locations.
The elections department used voter turnout data at each location to determine which sites to cut, removing the sites with the lowest turnout, while maintaining an even spread of polling sites throughout the county, Ludwig said. The reduction in polling sites will save the county roughly $1 million, he added.
What they’re saying
“We couldn’t just take the 12-highest turnout locations and throw those on a map because it clearly puts them all in specific areas, and you have big gaps all over the map,” Ludwig said. “We also had to look at, how do we get locations spread around the county to ensure that there is accessibility.”
“Everything was just driven by pure voter turnout, and I think that’s the right way to do it,” Krause said during the meeting.
On the other hand
Commissioner Miles opposed the polling place cuts, saying the cuts disenfranchise minority communities and the cost savings doesn’t justify the loss of voter access.
“It’s not about money. It’s about access. If it’s only one person that goes to a voting site, so be it. That’s one person that got to participate in the democratic process,” Miles said. “Many of the closures are concentrated inside the 820 loop, leaving central Fort Worth, including historic black and brown neighborhoods, disproportionately affected.”
Looking ahead
County commissioners have the option to add additional polling locations for early and election day voting at the Sep. 3 county court meeting, Ludwig said.
