Commissioners in Tarrant County, Republicans, deny re-enactment of polling places for election day

Tarrant County Reduces Voting Locations Ahead of November Election

Tarrant County commissioners have made a decision to reduce the number of voting locations for the upcoming November election. This move, which has been met with criticism from some quarters, is part of an effort to run the election in a fiscally conservative manner.

The commissioners struck down an attempt to add 37 voting locations, a decision that was made along party lines with no comments from the Republican commissioners. Democratic Commissioner Alisa Simmons had proposed adding back some Election Day locations and seven early voting sites, but her proposal was not accepted.

The reductions aim to save about $1 million, according to County Judge Tim O'Hare and Election Administrator Clint Ludwig. The commissioners unanimously approved spending $18,600 to renovate the Tarrant County Elections Administration building.

The renovations will make the center compliant with a new Texas law requiring election equipment to be secured in a locked room overnight. This requirement led to the reduction of several early voting locations, including at the University of Texas at Arlington.

Ken Shimamoto, a local resident, criticized the commissioners for reducing polling locations and redrawing the commissioners' precinct map to favor a Republican candidate. About a dozen attendees spoke in favor of the new locations during the meeting. However, the lone speaker against the additional early voting locations did not confirm his name.

The speaker criticized those pushing for the additional amendments for making "Democratic hoopla"-based narratives about race that he didn't think were true.

Brandon Rottinghaus, a political science professor at the University of Houston, stated that a confused voter is a nonvoter. He emphasized that it's the collective of ever-changing policies that can discourage people from voting, not a single law.

Texas voters will cast ballots for 17 constitutional amendments in November. One of these amendments aims to raise the homestead exemption from ad valorem - according to value - taxation by a school district from $100,000 to $140,000.

Early voting runs from October 20 to October 31, and the last day to apply for a ballot by mail is October 24. The last day to register to vote for the November election is October 6.

In Texas, elections scheduled for November 2025 are expected to include presidential, congressional, and possibly local decision-making processes, although specific details about the exact election topics or candidates are not currently available.