[Photo: LM Otero/AP]
The Dallas County Democratic Party (DCDP) successfully obtained a court order to extend polling hours for today’s primary election. All Dallas County voting locations will now remain open until 9:00 p.m. Following a day marked by documented voting access issues and administrative hurdles, the DCDP took immediate legal action to ensure that no Democratic voter is disenfranchised by structural failures.
The challenges faced by voters today are the direct result of deliberate choices. By refusing a joint primary election and enforcing last-minute redistricted congressional boundaries, a system was created that prioritized confusion over participation.
“This is voter suppression by design,” said Chair Kardal Coleman. “When the countywide voting system people have used for over a decade is discarded, it forces working Texans to hunt for new locations and navigate unnecessary barriers. We are stepping in to clean up the mess made by these partisan decisions.”
Guidance for Voters and Election Workers
● All eligible Democratic voters in line at any Dallas County polling place by 9:00
p.m. must be allowed to cast their ballot.
● Democratic election judges and poll workers are instructed to ensure every voter
present by the new deadline is served.
● Voters experiencing issues or seeking their newly assigned precinct locations
should visit DallasDemocrats.org/elections.
As the 9th largest county in the nation, Dallas County was forced to implement new precinct maps approved only this past December. The strain of this compressed preparation window was exacerbated by the Dallas County Republican Party’s willful
and deliberate choice to hold separate primaries, which fractured the voting process.
Despite these state-level structural challenges, local election officials and poll workers have worked tirelessly to maintain the integrity of the vote. The Dallas County Democratic Party remains committed to supporting these professionals while fighting
back against the gamesmanship that threatens our democratic process.
Official Documentation
The following documents are attached to this release for public review:
1. Order Extending Voting Hours
2. Court Ruling Granting the Extension
For more information, visit DallasDemocrats.org.
