Tarrant County polling-site cuts triggered protests at a Fort Worth commissioners meeting, where Judge Tim O’Hare ordered spectators removed. The proposal would reduce Election Day locations from 316 to 176 and early-voting sites from 50 to 42 for November 2026.

Judge orders spectators from meeting

Tarrant County Judge Tim O’Hare ordered spectators removed from a commissioners court meeting in Fort Worth on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, after chants and jeers interrupted debate over proposed polling-site reductions.

O’Hare issued several warnings before directing attendees to an overflow area. Residents registered to speak were admitted individually and permitted to remain after making their comments.

The confrontation drew dozens of residents, voting-rights advocates and local officials to the meeting in Tarrant County, which includes Fort Worth and is one of Texas’ largest counties.

Proposal would cut Election Day locations by 44%

The plan would reduce Election Day voting locations from 316 during the 2022 midterm election to 176 for the Tuesday, November 3, 2026, general election. That represents 140 fewer sites, or a reduction of about 44%.

Early-voting locations would fall from 50 in 2022 to 42. The proposed figures were confirmed in reporting ahead of the commissioners court vote.

County officials have previously defended polling-place consolidation as a way to reduce costs and operate elections more efficiently when turnout is expected to be lower.

Critics argue that fewer locations can increase travel distances and waiting times, particularly for voters without flexible work schedules or reliable transportation. Similar reductions approved by the county in 2025 were justified as cost-saving measures and opposed by voting-access advocates.

More than 1.3 million voters could be affected

Tarrant County has more than 1.3 million registered voters. Under the countywide Vote Center system, registered voters can cast ballots at any available county location on Election Day rather than being limited to one assigned precinct site.

Early voting is scheduled from Monday, October 19, through Friday, October 30, 2026. The voter-registration deadline is Monday, October 5, and Election Day is Tuesday, November 3.

Final decision remains pending

At the time of publication, a final decision on the proposed polling-site list had not been confirmed. The outcome will determine how broadly in-person voting is distributed across Tarrant County during the November midterm election.