Ninety-two polling sites were reportedly shut down in Tarrant County, Texas, in 2026, potentially confusing local voters. The news sparked backlash against the Republican Party on social media, as locals considered the county a “swing” county that could affect James Talarico’s chances of becoming a U.S. Senator.
As reported by Daily Express US, Tarrant County shut down 92 polling places in the weeks leading up to the midterm election. This essentially reduced the number of polling locations from 316 to 223 in 2026 when compared to the midterms in 2022.
What makes the change significant is that it was largely supported by the Republican Party, as three members of the party in the local council defended the decision, arguing that these polling places were underutilized. Two Democratic members opposed the change. Critics argued that the decision disproportionately affected marginalized communities.
To add to the controversy, Joe Biden won Tarrant County in the 2026 election, and Senate candidate James Talarico is currently running close to Republican Ken Paxton in the polls, fueling outrage against the GOP.
Texans Outraged As Multiple Polling Sites Shut Down
Texans who commented on the news on r/Texas were enraged by the closure of so many polling sites. One of them wrote: “I don’t care if just 1 person shows up to a polling place; we shouldn’t be reducing polling sites and making it more difficult for people to get to a polling location.”
Others accused the GOP of trying to steal the election: “Republicans can only win by cheating.” Another Texan sarcastically remarked: “Nothing says swing county like turning election day into a polling-site scavenger hunt.”
A seemingly irritated user wrote: “Vote those people out!” Another responded sarcastically with: “Can’t vote them out if you can’t vote,” referring to the confusion caused by these changes.
Amid the controversy, however, one person offered useful advice to people who were unsure where to vote in Tarrant County: “Call your location election office/ town clerk if you’re not sure where to vote.”
It remains to be seen whether Democrats or Republicans will come out on top in Texas, but 2026 could see one of the closest races, if the polls are to be believed.
