\n The Islamic Association of North Texas in Richardson and Barry Wernick, the Republican nominee for Dallas County Commissioner District 2. | Images by Michael Barera\/Wikimedia Commons and Dallas County Republican Party; compilation by DX. <\/p>\n
Barry Wernick<\/a>, the Republican nominee challenging Dallas County Commissioner Andy Sommerman<\/a> (D-District 2), has proposed moving two Dallas County vote centers from a mosque and a church to Richardson ISD facilities.<\/p>\n Wernick\u2019s August 28 proposal<\/a> calls for moving the Islamic Association of North Texas vote center at 840 Abrams Road to the Arzell Ball Center. It also calls for moving the Ministerios Charisma site at 740 Melrose Drive to the former Greenwood Hills Elementary campus.<\/p>\n The proposal follows Sommerman\u2019s remarks connecting mosque vote centers to Democratic electoral gains, as The Dallas Express reported<\/a> Monday. Sommerman took credit for opening three mosque vote centers and said voters at the sites helped Democrats and Judge Tina Clinton.<\/p>\n Wernick accused Sommerman of allowing partisan considerations to influence the selection of IANT as a vote center.<\/p>\n \u201cSommerman selected this building, took public credit for the choice, and then told his supporters what it delivered for his party,\u201d Wernick said. \u201cVoters are entitled to know what the county picked, and to have that decision made against a published standard instead of by a politician whose own name is on the ballot.\u201d<\/p>\n Two proposed relocations<\/p>\n Richardson ISD\u2019s facility directory<\/a> lists the Arzell Ball Center at 410 S. Greenville Ave. The district said in a 2024 consolidation plan<\/a> that it would repurpose Greenwood Hills after consolidating the school\u2019s attendance area into neighboring campuses for the 2024-2025 school year.<\/p>\n Wernick\u2019s release describes the two RISD properties as available alternatives. The release and the RISD materials reviewed by The Dallas Express do not establish that the district has agreed to make either property available as a vote center for the November 3 election.<\/p>\n \u201cI am asking for the same thing at a church that I am asking for at a mosque,\u201d Wernick said. \u201cIf this principle is right, it is right everywhere, and it does not bend for anyone\u2019s congregation or anyone\u2019s votes.\u201d<\/p>\n Wernick based his proposal on Section 43.031 of the Texas Election Code<\/a>. The law directs election authorities to designate a public building as a polling place when practicable and permits a private building when a suitable public building is unavailable. It does not categorically prohibit religious facilities from serving as polling places.<\/p>\n \u201cThe law already says public buildings come first,\u201d Wernick said. \u201cI am not asking Dallas County to invent a new rule. I am asking it to follow the one that is already on the books.\u201d<\/p>\n Records and policy changes<\/p>\n Wernick called on Dallas County to release its methodology for choosing vote centers, records showing every site added, removed or relocated since August 15, 2023, and the costs associated with private facilities. He also asked the county to identify who requested each change and to release related committee minutes.<\/p>\n \u201cVoters do not want polling locations chosen as political weapons,\u201d Wernick said. \u201cThey want locations that are convenient, accessible, and impartial.\u201d<\/p>\n Wernick also proposed changing state law to require counties to issue a written finding that no suitable public building was available before designating a private facility. His proposal calls for a 30-day public comment period, an open meeting and a written county response before officials adopt or change polling-location methodology.<\/p>\n Other critics respond<\/p>\n