Two candidates seeking office in Tarrant County are calling on county officials to extend early‑voting hours after voters experienced two‑hour lines on the first day of early voting. Democrats Kevin Burge, a candidate for U.S. House District 24, and Nathan Smith, running for Tarrant County Clerk, released a joint statement asking that early‑voting sites remain open until 8 p.m. next week.
Why the request matters
Both candidates argue that the county’s recent reduction in polling locations has strained the system. In 2022, Tarrant County operated 50 early‑voting sites; this year the number has fallen to 47, while the county’s population has grown from 2.16 million to an estimated 2.24 million, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Early‑voting sites are also being cut on Election Day, dropping from 316 locations in 2022 to 224 this year.
“Everyone who is a voter is impacted,” Burge told KERA News. “We’re seeing a wave of people coming out, and it’s hard to justify a reduction of polls in an environment like this.” He added that the cuts could disproportionately affect Black and brown voters in historically underserved neighborhoods.
County officials’ response
Clint Ludwig, the elections administrator who proposed the cuts, said several sites used in the 2022 midterms were unavailable or did not meet statutory requirements. “I’m confident that what is proposed will give everybody that wants to vote the opportunity to vote,” Ludwig said in September.
The county’s spokesperson declined to comment on the request for extended hours. Ludwig did not return a follow‑up phone call.
Impact on voters
Brody Mulligan, spokesperson for Burge and Smith, noted that higher turnout and a longer ballot are contributing to longer wait times. He also highlighted health and safety concerns for elderly and disabled voters.
Smith warned that working‑class voters may struggle to find time to vote within the current window. “If folks have a narrow window and see a line snaking around the building, they may not be able to vote,” he said, calling the outcome “absolutely unacceptable.”
Public reaction
An August 4 public hearing on the polling‑site cuts featured a seven‑hour marathon of speakers, two of whom were arrested. Dozens of community members signed up to urge the court to retain more locations, arguing that the county’s growing population warrants more polling sites.
While the court voted 3‑2 along party lines in September to approve the cuts, the debate continues as early‑voting numbers rise. Mulligan believes the reduction in Election‑Day sites is prompting more voters to cast ballots early, further stressing the limited early‑voting locations.
What’s next?
The candidates hope the county will act quickly to extend hours before early voting ends, ensuring that all voters have a reasonable opportunity to cast their ballots without long waits.
Original reporting: Fort Worth Report — read the source article.
