Fort Worth District Judge J. Patrick Gallagher of the 96th District Court denied a temporary injunction that would have restored 92 polling sites removed from Tarrant County’s approved list for the upcoming November 3 midterm elections. The decision keeps the county’s current plan of 224 Election Day sites and 47 early‑voting sites in effect.
Background and plaintiffs’ concerns
Four Fort Worth officials—Deborah Peoples, Camille Rodriguez, Kathleen Hicks and Maryellen Hicks—filed suit against Tarrant County, its elections administrator Clint Ludwig, and the Republican commissioners who approved the site reductions. The plaintiffs argued that the cuts would disproportionately affect Black and Latino voters in minority‑majority neighborhoods and low‑income ZIP codes, making it harder for residents who work long hours or lack reliable transportation to cast a ballot.
County’s justification
During the four‑hour hearing, elections administrator Ludwig testified that the proposed list was crafted with input from the county commissioners, who sought sites near public transportation while avoiding unnecessary duplication. He emphasized that the 224 Election Day sites are evenly distributed across the four precincts as directed by the commissioners.
Ludwig also explained that reinstating the 92 sites would have disrupted the election timeline. County staff would not have had sufficient time to reprogram and publicly test voting machines before the early‑voting period beginning Oct. 19, a state‑mandated requirement. Assistant District Attorney Stephen Lund supported the judge’s decision, noting jurisdictional problems with the plaintiffs’ request and stressing the practical need to meet state deadlines.
Cost considerations
Supporters of the reduction highlighted the cost savings achieved by consolidating sites. While Ludwig acknowledged that the cuts saved dollars, he admitted the office did not explore alternative cost‑saving measures before proposing the reduction.
Plaintiffs’ response
After the ruling, the plaintiffs’ attorneys issued a statement noting that the judge’s denial of the injunction does not dismiss the lawsuit or rule out the possibility of discriminatory impact. They urged voters to redouble their efforts to ensure everyone casts a ballot.
“The testimony of the Tarrant County election administrator raised serious questions about the process and intent of why these voting sites in predominantly minority areas were eliminated,” the statement read.
What’s next?
The lawsuit remains pending, but the county will proceed with the approved list for Election Day. Voters in Fort Worth and the broader Tarrant County area should verify their polling location ahead of Nov. 3 and plan for early voting opportunities that remain available.
For additional information on polling locations, voters can visit the Tarrant County Elections website or contact the county elections office.
Original reporting: Fort Worth Report — read the source article.
