Tarrant County commissioners voted 3-2 Tuesday to approve a plan reducing the number of Election Day voting centers from 316 during the 2022 midterms to 224 for the November 2026 election. The vote followed more than eight hours of public testimony, with more than 100 people speaking before commissioners and the majority opposing the reduction.

Tarrant County is located in North Texas and includes Fort Worth, along with several surrounding communities in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area. With roughly 1.3 million registered voters, it is one of the largest and most politically consequential counties in Texas. Once considered a reliable Republican stronghold, Tarrant County has become a major battleground in recent statewide elections, making its voting operations particularly significant heading into the midterms.

Under the approved plan, the county will have 224 Election Day vote centers and 47 early-voting locations. That compares with 316 Election Day sites and 50 early-voting locations during the 2022 midterms. Tarrant County uses countywide vote centers, meaning voters can cast their ballots at any designated vote center rather than being restricted to a single neighborhood polling location.

The vote split along party lines. Republican County Judge Tim O’Hare and Commissioners Matt Krause and Manny Ramirez supported the plan, while Democratic Commissioners Alisa Simmons and Roderick Miles Jr. opposed it. Democratic commissioners proposed changes that would have restored several locations, including sites at the University of Texas at Arlington and Tarrant County College, but those amendments were rejected.

County Elections Administrator Clint Ludwig, who proposed the revised list, said he was confident the plan would still provide voters with an opportunity to cast ballots. County officials have cited factors including locations becoming unavailable, facilities no longer meeting requirements, proximity between existing sites, staffing and operational costs.

The plan comes after an earlier proposal would have reduced Election Day locations to just 176. Commissioners delayed that proposal following significant public backlash before approving the revised total of 224.

Opponents argue the reduction could make voting more difficult in some communities, while supporters say consolidating locations will allow the county to use election resources more efficiently. With Tarrant County increasingly competitive in statewide races, the decision is likely to remain a major political issue as Texas heads toward the November midterm elections.