Victory: Our Lawsuit Helped increase Polling Locations in Bexar County
We know that a critical step to protect the right to vote is ensuring that voters have a polling location near their homes. So when Bexar County illegally cut 40+ Election Day polling places ahead of the 2022 election, we sued.
On October 10th, 2022 a judge ruled that Bexar County must have 388 polling locations on Election Day to comply with the election code. If the County wants to reduce this number, they must take the legally required steps to do so, which includes seeking community input on any changes.
Bexar County Elections Administrator Jacque Callanen attends a Bexar County Election Board meeting at the Paul Elizondo Tower on Monday. (Kaylee Greenlee Beal/Contributor) KAYLEE GREENLEE BEAL 2022
On October 18th, 2022, just three weeks before Election Day for the 2022 Midterm Election, the Bexar County Commissioners Court on Tuesday approved 302 polling sites to be opened for voters this year in contrast to its original number of 259.
Two years ago in 2020, we sued Bexar County over a similar decision to close several polling places on Election Day. In the previous lawsuit won by TCRP, Bexar County was required to open 18 additional polling places and post them on its website 21 days before the election.
We should not have to sue Bexar County every election cycle to force compliance with the law, but nonetheless we will continue to hold Bexar County – and counties across Texas – accountable so that every voter is able to cast their ballot this November. Joaquin Gonzalez, Senior Supervising Voting Rights Attorney
We will continue to advocate on behalf of every Texas voter to ensure they can make their voices heard. If you have any questions or face any issues voting, remember to call our Election Protection hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE!
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