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With 77 days to the primary, Dallas County presses parties for contracts and warns of operational risk

Dallas County Commissioners Court · December 16, 2025

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Summary

Elections staff told the court the March primary is 77 days away and that contracts from both parties are still being negotiated; commissioners set a Dec. 20 deadline for party contract completion and warned operational problems if parties miss it.

Dallas County elections staff told Commissioners Court that the county is 77 days from the March primary and remains in active contract negotiations with both political parties over primary operations.

Elections staff reported a recent meeting with the Republican hand‑count committee and continuing discussions with the Democratic party, which had not yet returned a draft contract to the county. The administrator said both sides must provide contract language and location selections so the county can finalize logistics, staffing and training.

Commissioner Price and other members pressed for certainty, noting the county must plan staffing, polling locations and training well ahead of election day. Staff said contracts are written to allow parties to choose the number of voting locations, but that parties must submit their final lists by a date specified in the contracts. Commissioners set a firm internal deadline of Dec. 20 and asked legal staff to press for completion; county counsel said the office has recommended a Dec. 20 deadline to the parties.

Commissioners discussed the potential operational consequences if parties do not provide contracts in time — including difficulties running two separate, party-managed primaries and overlapping special elections — and acknowledged the county will continue daily communications with both parties until the contracts are finalized.

Elections staff also confirmed they had met with hand-count committees and legal counsel and said they will provide daily updates until contracts are executed. Commissioners underscored the county will need to know the number and locations of polling places to plan staffing and to comply with assessment and training requirements tied to party assessments.