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2d ago

Dallas County GOP Reinstates Countywide Voting for May 26 Runoff

The change follows primary-day confusion that left late ballots uncounted.

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Voters line up at the Oak Lawn Branch Library voting center on Primary Election Day in Dallas on March 3, 2026. Republicans' decision to hold a split primary from the Democrats and to eliminate countywide voting forced Dallas County voters to cast ballots at assigned neighborhood precincts, leading to confusion. Republicans have now decided to use countywide polling locations for the May 26 runoff election.

Overview

  • County GOP Chair Allen West said precinct-based runoff voting would increase risk and voter confusion and will sign an amended contract this week to restore countywide sites.
  • The Dallas County Elections Department said both parties appear to agree to use countywide locations for the runoff.
  • Republicans will keep the runoff non-joint, meaning parties will not share poll workers or equipment and voters will likely face separate lines.
  • The March 3 precinct-only setup redirected many voters, a judge briefly extended hours, and roughly 2,000 ballots cast after 7 p.m. did not count following a Texas Supreme Court order.
  • NBC News reported Republicans initially pursued precinct-only voting to enable hand counts that were later abandoned over cost, and the May 26 ballot includes the GOP Senate runoff between John Cornyn and Ken Paxton.