Simmons calls polling-site vote "campaigning from the dais"
Alisa SimmonsTarrant County commissioner (Precinct 2) and Democratic candidate for county judge
Commissioner Alisa Simmons's closing remarks before the vote on the polling-location plan, at the Tarrant County Commissioners Court, Sept. 1, 2026.
Excerpt from 8:03:56 to 8:04:43 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 8:03:55 to 8:04:35 into the recording, immediately before the vote)
In closing remarks just before the vote, Commissioner Alisa Simmons, a Democrat who opposed the list, said the Republican commissioners had not offered a cost justification and that the decision was about power and political campaigning from the dais.
Responding to
Tarrant County commissioners' reduction of 2026 polling places was an attempt to rig the election.
“You have not heard them say anything about cost. This is not about cost. This is about power. This is very political. This is campaigning from the dais. That's what this is.”
Original video
Other statements by Alisa Simmons in this case
- Simmons calls the cuts an attempt to confuse voters of colorLater: 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 Alisa Simmons, who voted against the list, makes closing remarks moments before the 3-2 vote.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Watch the clip from this source at the top of the page.
Before the quotation
Simmons had proposed amendments to restore polling locations, including sites on college campuses, and the court's Republican majority had rejected them.
After the quotation
The court approved the list 3-2 moments later, with County Judge Tim O'Hare and Commissioners Matt Krause and Manny Ramirez voting for it.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
Simmons rejects the cost rationale and attributes the vote to political power and campaigning, which condemns the decision and asserts a political motive that remains contested.
- Recorded on
- Published here
- People and groups discussed
- Tarrant County Commissioners Court
More from this case
Read the full caseMiles says removing convenient polling sites creates barriers
“And when you remove a place that's convenient for the residents to vote, that presents barriers.”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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- Simmons calls polling-site vote "campaigning from the dais"
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The Dispute Index. "Simmons calls polling-site vote "campaigning from the dais"". First published: 2026-09-24. Last updated: 2026-09-24. https://disputeindex.com/events/2148-in-closing-remarks-just-before-the-vote-commissioner