Tarrant County Commissioners voted 3-2 this week to cut the number of early voting sites for the November election, citing taxpayer savings.
The original plan called for reducing the 51 early voting polling sites used last year down to just 24. However, after debate and amendments, the final plan raised the number to 33 locations, NBC DFW reported.
A separate proposal to shrink the number of Election Day polling locations from 349 to 214 has not yet been voted on, according to the same outlet.
Public testimony at the commissioners’ meeting revealed sharp divisions. Some argued that the cuts amounted to voter suppression, while others insisted access remained intact.
“Facts matter. All voters still have the same 12 days, 121 hours, plus Election Day, plus another 12 hours to cast their votes—nothing changes with that, that’s not voter suppression,” said Republican precinct chair and House District 97 GOP leader Amie Super in support of the reductions.
Critics pushed back. “Tarrant County is following the state’s worst trends. We demand transparency and justice,” said Stephanie McCartney.
The debate among commissioners turned tense after public comments. Republican Judge Tim O’Hare criticized Democrat Commissioner Alisa Simmons, saying, “They have less at this point than two months to start going on it. It would be nice if you would stop accusing the staff members who disagree with you and don’t do what you think they should do every minute.”
Simmons fired back, accusing county leadership of diminishing diversity in the county administration. “He has whitewashed this administrative staff. When we got here, it was very diverse. We got three minorities left in this administrative staff,” she said.
Polling locations added back to the list included the Charles F. Griffin Sub Courthouse in Fort Worth, the Como Community Center, the Legacy Learning Center in Haslet, the Northeast Tarrant County Sub Courthouse in Hurst, the Bob Duncan Center in Arlington, the Kennedale Community Center, and Vernon Newsom Stadium in Mansfield.