At its Sept. 8 meeting, the Arlington City Council advanced a resolution that would publicly oppose Tarrant County’s recent decision to eliminate 19 of the 57 Election Day polling locations and two early‑voting sites for the upcoming November midterms. The resolution is slated for a formal vote at the council’s regular session on Sept. 29.
Mayor and council leaders voice concern
Mayor Jim Ross expressed alarm that the cuts come as Arlington’s population and voter turnout continue to rise. “Our community needs to know that we have their back on this thing, and that we’re not afraid to butt heads with people who are doing our voters, our residents, wrong,” Ross said.
Council members reviewed a draft prepared by city attorney Molly Shortall, though the language has not been released to the public. Ross acknowledged that the resolution may be largely symbolic, but stressed the importance of sending a clear message to county officials.
Impact of the cuts on Arlington voters
The new county list leaves Arlington with 19 fewer Election Day sites and one fewer early‑voting site compared with the 2022 midterms. Roughly 28 % of the ballots cast in Arlington on Election Day in 2022 came from locations that will now be closed.
Councilmember Raul Gonzalez questioned the methodology behind the cuts, noting that two eliminated sites – the Pantego Town Hall Council Chambers and Bailey Junior High – sit across the street from each other, making the decision appear arbitrary.
University of Texas at Arlington location under debate
Another focal point of the discussion was the removal of the University of Texas at Arlington’s Mavericks Activity Center as an early‑voting site. In 2022 the center saw the lowest early‑voting turnout among the city’s seven sites, yet several council members, including Brittney Garcia‑Dumas, argued that the resolution should specifically name the UTA location to preserve voting options for students and staff.
“This is a line I’m willing to hold,” Garcia‑Dumas said, emphasizing the council’s duty to advocate for all residents.
Council members weigh practical steps
Councilmember Bowie Hogg, while skeptical about the resolution’s effectiveness, asked Shortall to amend the language to focus on Arlington and to include the UTA site by name. He also suggested the city could provide free Via rides on Election Day to help voters travel to the remaining polling places.
Hogg requested a briefing from the county election administration to better understand the criteria used for the cuts, but Shortall reported that no representative was available on Sept. 8. The city plans to follow up before the Sept. 29 vote.
What’s at stake
With Arlington’s voter base expanding, council members argue that reduced polling access could disenfranchise families and undermine confidence in the electoral process. The upcoming resolution, while not legally binding, aims to pressure Tarrant County officials to reconsider the site reductions before the November election.
Arlington residents who wish to comment on the resolution are encouraged to attend the Sept. 29 council meeting or submit written feedback to the city clerk’s office.
Original reporting: Fort Worth Report — read the source article.
