Miles says the polling-site reduction creates "modern-day poll taxes"
Roderick Miles Jr.Tarrant County commissioner (Precinct 1), speaking from the dais before the vote
Commissioner Roderick Miles Jr. on the polling-location plan, at the Tarrant County Commissioners Court, Sept. 1, 2026.
Excerpt from 7:29:30 to 7:30:39 of the Tarrant County Commissioners Court video. DI added its logo in the corner.
Video: Tarrant County, Texas
Watch the full original video (opens in a new tab) (relevant passage: Meeting video, about 7:28:55 to 7:30:40 into the recording)
Speaking from the dais before the vote, Commissioner Roderick Miles Jr., a Democrat who opposed the list, said the reduction in polling locations institutes barriers to voting and compared it to poll taxes, adding that he was not using hyperbole.
“But at the end of the day, we are instituting barriers to making access to voting for people. It's modern-day poll taxes. And I'm not trying to be, I'm not trying to use hyperbole. This is a reality. So do what you're going to do. But just know that you are creating poll taxes, modern-day poll taxes, for people to go and vote and do what they have the right to do. You may not see it, and I can't help you see it, but it is what it is.”
Original video
Other statements by Roderick Miles Jr. in this case
- Miles says removing convenient polling sites creates barriersLater: Condemned
Where this statement fits
Were Tarrant County's 2026 polling-site cuts an attempt to skew the election?
On September 1, 2026, Tarrant County commissioners voted 3–2 to approve 224 Election Day polling sites for the November election, down from 316 in the 2022 midterms. Heather Cox Richardson characterized the decision as election-rigging and cited access concerns. W. A. Wren accepted the counts but argued that her account omitted the county Republicans' savings and low-turnout rationale and countywide vote-center rules. The decision's motive and likely effects on access are disputed.
Source and context
Original video
About this source
Official recording of the Tarrant County Commissioners Court meeting of September 1, 2026, at which commissioners voted 3-2 to adopt the county's 2026 polling-site list. In this segment Commissioner Roderick Miles Jr., who voted against the list, holds up a relative's poll tax receipt and compares the reduction in polling locations to poll taxes; County Judge Tim O'Hare then replies that there is no poll tax.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Watch the clip from this source at the top of the page.
Before the quotation
Miles was objecting to the elections administrator's proposed list of 224 Election Day and 47 early-voting sites, which the court's Republican majority was preparing to approve.
After the quotation
County Judge Tim O'Hare responded that there is no poll tax and that early voting did not exist in the era Miles described. The court approved the list 3-2 later that day.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
Miles rejects the decision itself as a barrier to voting comparable to poll taxes, which is condemnation rather than a dispute over how the decision is described.
- Recorded on
- Published here
- People and groups discussed
- Tarrant County Commissioners Court
More from this case
Read the full caseSimmons calls the cuts an attempt to confuse voters of color
“This is an attempt to confuse voters, to have voters of color just throw their hands up”Read statement
Krause says the site count avoids clustering polling places
“we don't have polling places clustered together so we're making efficient use of our polling sites”Read statement
Mattern argues Tarrant needs more early voting sites
“if you expect a greater turnout, why have fewer poll locations? That just is nonsensical.”Read statement
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- Miles says the polling-site reduction creates "modern-day poll taxes"
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The Dispute Index. "Miles says the polling-site reduction creates "modern-day poll taxes"". First published: 2026-09-24. Last updated: 2026-09-24. https://disputeindex.com/events/2147-speaking-from-the-dais-before-the-vote-commissioner