Tarrant County voters face long lines after court upholds 30% polling place cuts

Key points

• Tarrant County reduced polling locations from 316 in 2022 to 224 in 2026, a 30% cut, following a September decision by the Republican-led Commissioners Court.
• A judge rejected an emergency lawsuit filed by voters arguing the cuts violated state law and disproportionately burdened Black and Hispanic communities.
• On Election Day, 18 locations reported one-hour wait times, and eight locations had waits approaching two hours, according to county data.
• Despite the closures, early voting turnout in the first week was 63% higher than the same period in 2022, according to election officials.
• The NAACP launched a phone banking campaign and partnered with local transit authorities to help voters reach remaining polling sites.

Background

Tarrant County, once a reliable Republican stronghold, became competitive after Joe Biden won it in 2020. The county is pivotal for the 2026 U.S. Senate race between Attorney General Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico. Prior to the election, voters had sued to halt the polling cuts, but the court ruled against them, allowing the reduced sites to remain closed for the midterms.

How outlets are covering it

Democracy Docket and ABC News highlight the logistical burdens and racial disparities of the cuts, noting that 40% of lost sites were in ZIP codes with over 75% non-white residents. Conversely, Republican officials, including Commissioner Matt Krause and Judge Tim O’Hare, defended the reductions as efficient measures that comply with state law and avoid clustering sites. While Democrats and civil rights groups like the NAACP emphasized barriers for marginalized communities, Republicans argued the changes saved money and maintained statutory minimums. Both parties agreed on the importance of turnout, with county leaders from both sides coordinating efforts to inform voters of new locations.

Why it matters

The outcome in Tarrant County could influence the balance of power in the U.S. Senate, as Texas has not sent a Democrat to the Senate in 33 years. Losing the state could jeopardize Republican control of Congress and impact future presidential prospects. The polling cuts serve as a test case for voting access in swing states amid national debates over election integrity and redistricting.

What to watch

Election results will be tallied after polls close at 7 p.m. The U.S. Senate race between Paxton and Talarico is expected to be closely watched, with national implications for congressional control. Post-election, the Trump administration has indicated it will review voting logs to identify noncitizens, though specific methods for accessing this data remain unclear.