Residents urge reinstatement of polling sites as commissioners reject additions 2–3

Tarrant County residents pressed the Commissioners Court on Sept. 3, 2025 to restore early‑voting and Election‑Day polling locations that were removed from the county’s proposed 2025 voting plan. Commissioners heard more than a dozen public comments urging restoration of sites in historically underserved neighborhoods; many speakers said the closures would force older, low‑income and transit‑dependent voters to travel far to cast a ballot.

Commissioner Alisa Simmons proposed adding seven early‑voting sites that were used in 2023. After public comment, the court voted and the motion failed 2–3. Simmons then moved to add a list of 37 Election‑Day sites previously used in 2023; that motion also failed 2–3.

Voters who spoke listed specific locations they wanted restored and described how polling closures affect turnout. Aaron Roberts, volunteer election judge liaison for the Tarrant County Democratic Party, said the delay in appointing judges and the uncertainty of locations had already created confusion for people who plan work and childcare around an election. Carol Rayburn, an Arlington resident who has worked elections, told the court some removed locations — she named Poly Sub Courthouse and UTA — serve specific voter groups, including students and neighborhood stations with high early‑voting turnout.

County counsel noted Chapter 43 of the Texas Election Code makes the Commissioners Court responsible for approving polling places; the code does not prescribe a required total number of sites. The elections administrator (referred to in court as “Mr. Ludwig”) had reviewed the locations listed by Simmons, according to speakers and court staff; the court did not adopt the proposed additions.

Court members who opposed restoring the sites said the county must balance access with operational cost and that the Elections Administration had proposed a consolidated set of centers. Supporters of restoration urged the court to consider more outreach (mailing, multilingual notices, and travel assistance) and to revisit the list before ballot mailings and other deadlines.

Decisions and next steps: Both motions to add early‑voting and Election‑Day sites failed with 2‑to‑3 votes. The court directed elections staff to continue work on the elections portal and public notices; commissioners asked communications staff to compile outreach metrics and to identify channels for residents without internet access.

The debate drew a large public turnout with repeated calls for the court to prioritize voting access; several speakers asked the court to restore all 2023 sites rather than a subset.