The Texas Civil Rights Project filed a lawsuit Oct. 4 against Bexar County on behalf of the Texas Organizing Project over the county’s decision to close more than 40 polling places ahead of the Nov. 8 midterm elections.

According to a news release, the TCRP’s lawsuit aims to raise the number of polling places to comply with the Texas Election Code.

The TCRP said it is calling for 388 locations. The proposed number of polling places is 259, compared to the 2018 and 2020 number of 302 polling locations. County officials confirmed Oct. 5 that 267 polling spots will be open Nov. 8.

Several audience members attending a Sept. 6 county Commissioners Court meeting argued for increasing the number of early-voting and Election Day polling sites.

County officials said the election department provided more than 300 Election Day locations for the 2020 general election.

Representatives for the Bexar County Republican Party in August requested a decrease in the number of Election Day sites.

TCRP representatives reminded commissioners and county staff that their organization in 2020 sued Bexar County over a similar decision to close several polling places on Election Day.

In the previous lawsuit won by the TCRP, Bexar County was required to open 18 additional polling places and post them on its website 21 days before the election.

Commissioners Sept. 6 approved a plan to increase the number of early-voting sites from 46 to 51 and to tentatively set 259 Election Day locations.

Joaquin Gonzalez, senior supervising attorney for the TCRP’s voting rights program, said in an Oct. 4 news release that San Antonians have repeatedly voiced concerns about how poll closures negatively affect voters countywide.

“By closing polling locations, Bexar County is not only making it harder for certain communities to cast their ballots, but it is also doing so in clear violation of the law. It’s time to ensure that all voters in Bexar County, no matter their ZIP code, can vote safely and easily,” Gonzalez said in a statement.

TOP co-Executive Director Michelle Tremillo said every person eligible to vote in Bexar County—regardless of their age, race, physical ability, or political leaning—deserves fair access to the ballot box to have their voices heard in elections.

“The proposed closing of dozens of Election Day polling locations is a failure of the Bexar County Elections Department that TOP refuses to tolerate, and it is a burden voters in our democracy should not be forced to bear. Casting a vote is the cornerstone of civic participation in the U.S., and it should not require legal action to get our officials to comply with basic state election code,” Tremillo said.

The county elections department has not commented on the TCRP’s new attempts at litigation, but in an Oct. 5 news conference, Elections Administrator Jacque Callanen said the county does plan to operate 267 Election Day sites.

Callanen added it is a challenge to further increase the number of polling places, citing the amount of work activities involved in such endeavors, including securing facilities, hiring staff, setting up equipment and ensuring each site complies with federal accessibility laws.

Callanen and her staff used the Oct. 5 press conference to remind the public that Oct. 11 is the last day to register to vote in Texas.

The county's elections office at 1103 S. Frio St. is open until 6 p.m. Oct. 10 and 11 in order to help residents register or renew their voter registration.

Organizations such as the League of Women Voters and Mobilize. Organize. Vote. Empower. Texas are helping to register voters.

Callanen urged voters to capitalize on print and online voters guides to get candidate and initiative information on scheduled elections.

LWV has published an online voters guide. LWV of the San Antonio Area is also facilitating candidate forums, such as an 8 p.m. Oct. 21 forum involving Bexar County judge contestants Trish DeBerry, Peter Sakai and Edgar Coyle. That forum will be shown on KLRN public television.

Callanen also encouraged voters to take advantage of early voting, which will be held Oct. 24-Nov. 4.