Bold claim: voters were turned away and forced to navigate confusing new rules that upended polling in the Dallas area. And this is where it gets controversial... big questions about access, fairness, and election administration loom large.
Hundreds of voters in the Dallas metro area encountered delays and were redirected to different precincts to cast their ballots, according to Kardal Coleman, the chair of the Dallas County Democratic Party. The confusion stemmed from newly implemented rules that require voters to cast ballots at their assigned polling locations, rather than allowing a countywide approach on Election Day.
In response, Dallas County extended voting hours by two hours after Coleman secured a court order, allowing Democratic-leaning precincts to stay open until 10 p.m. Eastern Time. In contrast, much of Texas still closes at 8 p.m. Eastern Time, with El Paso and far West Texas closing at 9 p.m. Eastern Time.
Democratic candidate James Talarico argued that the extension was necessary to ensure every Texan’s voice could be heard in this pivotal election. Meanwhile, Republican officials in Dallas and Williamson counties opted for a precinct-based primary, effectively ending the countywide voting model that had previously been used on Election Day.
Coleman criticized the situation as largely avoidable and unnecessary, saying, “We didn’t have to be in this situation.”
Crockett, running against Talarico, voiced strong concerns about the changes, telling reporters, “My heart is breaking.” She referenced emails and video footage of voters who were distressed or unable to vote, insisting that the outcome should not hinge on confusing rules or disrupted access.
Crockett warned that the disruptions could influence the primary result, noting that even if the race isn’t extremely close, the fairness of who could vote matters. She pressed that the situation was fundamentally wrong, regardless of the margin.
CNN reached out to Republican Party officials in Dallas County and Williamson County for comment. Allen West, former Florida congressman and chair of the Dallas County GOP, had previously defended the precinct-based shift, expressing a preference for that model.
Earlier on Tuesday, Dallas County elections spokesperson Nicholas Solorzano stated that officials were seeing multiple voters redirected to the correct precinct across the county.
Both Talarico and Crockett urged voters to verify their assigned polling locations before heading out to vote.
This story has been updated with additional details.
CNN’s David Wright contributed to this report.
