Residents urge Denton County to adopt countywide Election Day vote centers after redirected voters report

Jackie Massey, who said she serves as a presiding judge in the Lewisville–Flower Mound area, told the Denton County Commissioners Court that voters were redirected at several polling places on Election Day and that the county should consider 'vote centers' so people are not turned away.

"Of the 52,570 voters who cast their ballots [in November 2025], 10.58% were redirected," Massey said, and she described locations where provisional voters waited until after 10 p.m. to be processed. She urged commissioners to enable countywide voting on Election Day so residents would not be forced to travel to different precincts.

Del Frey echoed that appeal, saying countywide voting on Election Day would reduce confusion and frustration. "This is the last day to vote…we're switching up the rules," he said, arguing that inconsistent access leads some voters — including those with disabilities or family obligations — to leave without casting ballots.

Stephanie Draper, a Denton County resident and former election judge, described turning away a student who had taken a rideshare to vote and a disabled voter who required curbside assistance. "It hurts my heart when people take the time off of work… and they get turned away," Draper said, and asked the court to place a plan for countywide Election Day vote centers on a future agenda.

The court did not take immediate action during public comment. The presiding judge reminded speakers that items not on the agenda are not deliberated that day and advised residents to contact their commissioners. Commissioners acknowledged the concerns and noted the county's rapid growth and traffic as complicating factors for Election Day access.

What's next: Commenters asked the court to add countywide Election Day voting to a future agenda; the court did not schedule such an item during the July 14 session.