Four Tarrant County voters are asking a judge to restore 92 polling sites before November, arguing the cuts violate the Texas Constitution and Election Code.
TARRANT COUNTY, Texas — Tarrant County residents have filed a lawsuit against county officials over the decision to cut polling locations for the 2026 midterm elections in September.
The lawsuit, filed against County Judge Tim O’Hare, Commissioners Matt Kraus and Manny Ramirez, Elections Administrator Clinton Ludwig and Tarrant County itself, claims that the cut violate the Texas Constitution and the Texas Election Code.
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The suit seeks a temporary restraining order, temporary injunction and a permanent injunction to block the current plan from taking effect for the upcoming election.
Tarrant County Commissioners Court approved a plan reducing Election Day voting locations from 316, the number used in the 2022 midterms, to 224, a reduction of 92 sites. The plaintiffs claim the actual number is greater than the figure suggests stating that 141 of the 316 locations used in 2022 had no replacement within a quarter mile.
The plaintiffs argue the cuts fall heavily in minority communities and that the county added polling locations in areas with lower minority populations.
The plaintiffs are asking the court to order the county to reconsider the current 224 voting site list, solicit minority voter input and restore a final list of sites with enough time before Election day along with restoring the 92 cut voting sites.
The September 1 meeting saw almost 150 people signed up to speak about the proposed polling site cuts. Two people were arrested after the meeting, including former Texas state Rep. Lon Burnam on charges of disrupting a meeting.
WFAA has reached out to the defendants listed for comment and will update the story once we receive it.
“This is a clear political stunt by failing far left Democrats who want to sow chaos and baseless lies into our community,” O’Hare Campaign Strategist Nick Maddux said in a statement to WFAA. “The Commissioners Court rejected a plan that had too few voting locations and demanded a plan with more voting locations that will give voters ample ability to ensure they are able to cast their vote.
County Commissioner Alisa Simmons, who is also O’Hares opponent in the Nov. 3 midterm race for the Tarrant County Judge seat, issued a lengthy statement to WFAA:
I voted against eliminating 92 Election Day polling locations because protecting access to the ballot is a fundamental responsibility of county government. Residents voiced serious concerns about these cuts, and they deserved a decision that prioritized their ability to vote. This lawsuit brings those concerns before a court.
The allegations that these reductions intentionally and disproportionately burden Black and Hispanic voters deserve careful judicial review.
Fewer polling locations can create real obstacles for working families, older adults, people with disabilities and residents who lack reliable transportation. Our responsibility is to ensure every eligible voter has a fair and practical opportunity to cast a ballot.
I supported restoring the eliminated polling locations. I made motions, twice to amend the vote centers lists to add additional locations. Both my amendments failed.
Residents should not have to turn to litigation to get their elected officials to protect voting access.
As a county commissioner, I will continue advocating for accessible elections, transparent decision-making and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars. Every Tarrant County voter deserves to be heard.
County Commissioner Roderick Miles said he supported “this legal challenge and the other actions I have proposed to expand voting locations.”
“For months, I have been raising concerns about decisions that threaten confidence in fair and accessible elections. I opposed the reduction of voting locations in Tarrant County, spoke out against the mid-decade redistricting process, and have continued pressing for accountability as we learn that voter registration applications connected to the Texas Department of Public Safety went unprocessed for months. These are different issues, but they point to the same responsibility: government should make it easier for eligible citizens to participate in our democracy, not harder,” Miles said.