As chairman of the Tarrant County Republican Party, I am committed to upholding the integrity and efficiency of our electoral process. A cornerstone of this commitment is advancing the Texas Republican Party’s legislative priorities, particularly the initiative to Secure Texas Elections. This priority emphasizes standardizing in-person voting by:
- Limiting early voting to a period of no longer than nine days, ensuring no gap before Election Day.
- Implementing assigned precinct voting locations exclusively.
- Counting ballots in precincts using a dumb-scanner method immediately upon voter submission, with results published prior to submission to the county.
To advance these objectives, Tarrant County Republicans support Senate Bill 76 by State Sen. Bob Hall, House Bill 2990 by State Rep. David Lowe, and House Bill 3361 by State Rep. Mike Olcott. These bills would end the Countywide Polling Place Program and ensure election integrity by returning to precinct-based voting.
While intended to increase voter convenience by allowing ballots to be cast at any polling location within the county, the Countywide Polling Place Program has inadvertently introduced significant challenges that compromise the sanctity of our elections.
Compromising Ballot Secrecy
One of the most alarming concerns is the erosion of ballot secrecy.
Analyses have revealed that data from countywide polling can be exploited to identify individual voting patterns. Activists have demonstrated the ability to cross-reference poll lists and election records, effectively uncovering how specific individuals voted.
This breach violates the fundamental right to a private vote and exposes voters to potential intimidation and retaliation.
Inefficiencies and Unequal Access
The countywide polling system forces election officials to anticipate voter distribution across various locations, often resulting in miscalculations. This guesswork leads to some polling stations being overwhelmed with long lines, while others remain underutilized.
Such disparities frustrate voters and raise concerns about equitable access to the ballot box. Moreover, there have been instances in which vote centers are strategically placed in areas favoring one political party, such as college campuses, disadvantaging suburban voters who encounter longer wait times.
Complicated Recounts and Increased Costs
The flexibility of countywide polling further complicates the recount process.
In traditional precinct-based voting, a recount for a specific race, such as a county constable, would be confined to that election’s precincts.
However, under the countywide system, ballots for such races are intermingled across the entire county, necessitating a comprehensive countywide recount, no matter how small the race.
This makes it virtually impossible to recount or audit a race in a large county like Tarrant County, where over 800,000 ballots were cast in the 2024 election.
Conclusion
The integrity of our electoral process is paramount. While the Countywide Polling Place Program may have been instituted with good intentions, its unintended consequences have compromised ballot secrecy, led to inefficiencies, and complicated election administration.
By supporting the proposed legislative measures, Texas lawmakers can restore trust in our elections, ensure equitable access for all voters, and uphold the principles of transparency and accountability that are the bedrock of our republic.
This is a commentary published with the author’s permission. If you wish to submit a commentary to Texas Scorecard, it must be no longer than 800 words. Send to: submission@texasscorecard.com
