A Tarrant County judge is hearing arguments on Tuesday in a lawsuit seeking to stop the county’s plan to reduce the number of voting locations ahead of next month’s midterm election. The lawsuit was filed by several residents, including Fort Worth City Council member Deborah Peoples. The plai ntiffs are asking a district court to intervene after county commissioners approved a plan last month that reduced the number of Election Day polling locations by 92 sites compared to the 2022 midterm election. The lawsuit comes weeks after the Tarrant County Commissioners Court approved the revised voting plan in a 3-2 vote despite significant opposition from residents, voting rights advocates, and local officials. Plaintiffs argue the reduction could create longer travel distances and increased burdens for voters in some neighborhoods and specifically minority communities. County leaders have maintained the plan improves efficiency, eliminates overlapping locations, and reflects voter turnout patterns during nonpresidential election years. The hearing began at 9:30 a.m. with Judge Patrick Gallagher in the 96th Judicial District Court and is expected to last into the afternoon. At the center of the dispute is whether the county’s voting location plan disproportionately impacts Black and Hispanic communities and whether county officials followed state election law when developing and approving the changes. In opening arguments, attorneys for the plaintiffs argued the polling place reductions did not affect all areas of the county equally. They told the court that county officials initially considered eliminating 140 voting locations before eventually restoring 48 sites following public pushback. Plaintiffs argue that the remaining cuts fall disproportionately on communities of color and that some predominantly Black and Hispanic neighborhoods lost multiple polling places. “This is not a coincidence; this is a pattern that repeats across the county,” said attorney Susan Hutchison during opening statements. Lawyers for the plaintiffs also questioned the county’s methodology, arguing officials have not adequately explained why certain polling locations were eliminated while others remained open. They contend county leaders have not provided sufficient evidence showing significant cost savings from the reductions. “We are showing evidence of that,” said Hutchison. “Minority communities were shut out of the process as well as feeling the brunt of the cuts.” According to the lawsuit, the plaintiffs are not asking the court to delay or cancel the election but are instead seeking emergency relief that would require the county to restore polling locations they argue were unjustly removed in neighborhoods most affected by the changes. They also contend there is still enough time to reinstate voting sites before the election, pointing to state requirements that allow public notice of polling location changes within 72 hours of voting. Early voting in Texas is set to begin next Monday, October 19. County attorneys countered that it is too late to make significant changes before early voting begins next week. An attorney representing the county argued that granting a temporary restraining order would require officials to quickly secure additional voting locations and comply with government code requirements that include public meetings to approve any reinstated sites. “There is no possible order that this court could put down that the county would be able to comply with,” the attorney told the court. The judge questioned the county’s position during the exchange, asking whether the argument meant the case was effectively moot because of the timeline. The judge said he would review the rules for reinstating polling locations. The plaintiff lawyers said there is enough time of 72 hours as required by law to provide notice of any changes if voting locations are reinstated Tarrant County Elections Administrator Clint Ludwig was called as the first witness for the plaintiffs. He testified that Tarrant County has roughly 1.3 million registered voters and said he was asked by the county to evaluate poll locations beginning in 2024. He told the court that his review considered factors including voter turnout, overlapping polling locations, underused sites, and whether locations remained available for election use. Ludwig testified that he did not personally solicit information or feedback from minority communities during his evaluation of polling sites. He said he relied in part on information from a survey conducted in 2019, before he became elections administrator. Under questioning, Ludwig also testified that he did not consider racial or ethnic demographics when evaluating polling locations. A spokesperson for Tim O’Hare issued a statement regarding the lawsuit ahead of the hearing. “This is a clear political stunt by failing far-left Democrats who want to sow chaos and baseless lies into our community,” said Nick Maddux, O’Hare Campaign Strategist. “The Commissioners Court rejected a plan that had too few voting locations and demanded a plan with more voting locations that will give voters ample ability to ensure they are able to cast their vote.” This is a developing story and will be updated as the hearing continues. ...read more read less