Dallas County

The 2026 primary election in Texas was marred by confusion and chaos due to the Republican Party's decision to eliminate countywide voting and force all voters to cast ballots at assigned precincts, leading to thousands of voters showing up at the wrong polling locations.

Dallas County voters should be aware of the two separate election days in May, the first of which is a joint and special election for Dallas County municipalities, and the second of which is a primary runoff election for the Republican and Democratic parties, and that they can vote at any vote center in the county, despite the chaos of the March 3 primary election.

The Dallas Free Press and the League of Women Voters of Dallas hosted a voter information session to address confusion around changes to the voting process in Dallas County, and provided resources to help voters cast their ballots with confidence.

On Election Day for the March 2026 Texas primaries, Dallas County Republican Party abandoned a 7-year tradition of countywide voting, forcing both Republicans and Democrats to vote only at their assigned neighborhood precinct locations, which caused confusion and frustration for some voters.

On Election Day, Dallas County voters must find their specific polling location, preview their ballot, bring a photo ID and a paper guide, and take advantage of free rides from DART to make their voice heard.

Dallas and Williamson counties in Texas are switching to precinct-level voting for the primary election, which will require more election workers and may confuse voters who are used to countywide voting sites.

Scottie Smith II is proposing a Sunny South Dallas Public Improvement District (PID) to generate $9 million over the next decade to pay for increased police patrols, landscaping, sidewalks and drainage, with the money coming from extra fees paid by property owners in the area.

Texas legislators are pushing for a charter amendment to move Dallas' local elections to November, which could lead to increased voter turnout and cost savings, but faces political hurdles.

Dallas County has implemented the Countywide Polling Place Program, which has increased voter convenience and reduced the number of poll workers needed, but voter turnout in the county has decreased since 2019.

The Dallas Free Press has released a Voter Guide to help residents prepare for the May 3rd election, including information on registration, polling locations, candidates, and early voting.

The Dallas Free Press Voter Guide is available to help Dallas County residents prepare for the May 3rd election, providing information on registration, polling locations, candidates, and early voting locations.