Chris Turner
Role at the time: Texas state representative
Statement summary
State Rep. Chris Turner said in a letter posted on social media that removing a major university's polling site was not a neutral decision, and that it placed a deliberate barrier in front of young voters, first-time voters and other voters who already face obstacles to participation.
“Stripping a major university of its polling site is not a neutral decision It is a deliberate barrier placed in front of young voters, first-time voters, and voters who already face disproportionate obstacles to civic participation.”
Why we used this label
The reference point is the Commissioners Court's decision to reduce Election Day polling sites, including the site at the University of Texas at Arlington. Turner wrote that stripping a major university of its polling site was not a neutral decision and called it a deliberate barrier for young voters, first-time voters and others who already face obstacles. That criticizes the cut itself, so we labeled it Condemned.