A Tarrant County judge on Tuesday, Oct. 13, rejected an emergency request to restore polling locations that county officials removed from the Election Day plan for next month’s midterm election. The ruling leaves in place a plan with 92 fewer sites than the county used in the 2022 midterms, while a broader lawsuit challenging the changes continues. The suit was brought by several residents, including Fort Worth City Council member Deborah Peoples, against the county’s Republican commissioners and Elections Administrator Clint Ludwig. Plaintiffs contend the cuts create longer trips and other voting burdens in some neighborhoods, particularly Black and Hispanic communities. They also argue county officials did not adequately explain which locations were selected for closure or demonstrate substantial savings. The Commissioners Court approved the revised plan in a 3-2 vote last month, after initially considering a reduction of 140 sites and restoring 48 following public opposition. County leaders say the final plan improves efficiency, eliminates overlapping locations and reflects turnout patterns in nonpresidential election years. At Tuesday’s hearing, plaintiffs’ attorney Susan Hutchison argued the remaining cuts fell unevenly across the county. “This is not a coincidence; this is a pattern that repeats across the county,” she said. The plaintiffs sought to restore locations they say were unfairly removed, not to delay or cancel the election. Ludwig testified that Tarrant County has about 1.3 million registered voters and that he began evaluating polling locations at the county’s request in 2024. He said his review considered turnout, overlapping and underused sites, and whether locations were still available for election use. Under questioning, Ludwig said he did not seek input directly from minority communities or consider racial and ethnic demographics in evaluating locations. He said he relied in part on a 2019 survey conducted before he became elections administrator. County attorneys argued that reinstating sites so close to early voting would be impractical, requiring officials to secure locations and hold public meetings to approve them. Early voting is scheduled to begin Oct. 19. Plaintiffs countered that state law allows notice of polling-location changes within 72 hours of voting. The case centers on whether the county’s plan disproportionately affects Black and Hispanic voters and whether officials followed state election law in developing and approving the changes. The judge’s denial of emergency relief does not resolve those underlying claims.