Tarrant County, Texas District Judge Denies Temporary Injunction That Would Have Kept 92 Polling Locations Open for the Midterms

Judge Patrick Gallagher in the 96th Judicial District Court denied a temporary injunction that would have kept 92 polling locations open in Tarrant County, Texas. NBC DFW’s report, published October 13, 2026, says the hearing began at 9:30 a.m. and that “Around 4 p.m., the judge ruled against the injunction” (ruling date: the hearing day, October 13, 2026). The suit was brought by residents including Fort Worth City Council member Deborah Peoples against the county’s plan, which NBC says cut Election Day polling locations by 92 sites compared to the 2022 midterm election. FOX 4 reports the Commissioners Court voted 3-2 in September (vote month) to close the sites, leaving 224 polling sites, and that County Judge Tim O’Hare and other proponents say the county would save $1 million.

At the hearing, plaintiffs’ lawyers told the court county officials initially considered eliminating 140 voting locations before restoring 48 sites. Elections Administrator Clint Ludwig testified, NBC reports, that he did not consider racial or ethnic demographics when evaluating polling locations. A county attorney argued: “There is no possible order that this court could put down that the county would be able to comply with.” NBC reports that attorneys say their discrimination claims still stand and will still play out in court. FOX 4 lists early voting as beginning October 19 and Election Day as Nov. 3. Related federal polling-place litigation: 2026-10-16–all-parties-tell-alikhan-consolidation-appropriate-lulac-naacp-dscc-polling-place-suits-joint-status-report.