Texas Supreme Court Puts Dallas, Williamson Late Primary Ballots in Limbo After Judge’s Extended-Hours Order
After a judge ordered extended voting hours, the Texas Supreme Court left in limbo whether late primary ballots set aside in Dallas and Williamson counties will be counted. In response to polling disruptions, Rep. Julie Johnson has proposed federal legislation requiring states to notify voters at least seven days before a federal election of any polling-place change by mail, telephone and, if possible, text/email and to make “every reasonable effort” to enable affected voters to cast ballots if changes occur within seven days; Dallas County officials say they sent texts, mailed notices and ran social media and streaming ads to alert voters about the return to precinct-based voting.
📌 Key Facts
- Rep. Julie Johnson, a Dallas-area Democrat, has introduced federal legislation to set nationwide minimum requirements for notifying voters of polling place changes in federal elections.
- The bill would require states to notify affected voters at least seven days before Election Day by mail, telephone and, if possible, text and email whenever their polling place has changed since the previous federal election.
- If a polling location is changed within seven days of a federal election, the bill directs states to make "every reasonable effort" to enable the affected voter to cast a ballot on Election Day.
- Dallas County elections officials say they sent text messages, mailed notices, and ran social media and streaming ads to alert voters about the return to precinct-based voting on Election Day.
- Johnson is headed to a May 26 Democratic runoff with former Rep. Colin Allred in Texas’ 33rd Congressional District.
📊 Relevant Data
In 2022, Dallas County's population was 26.8% non-Hispanic White (down from 33.1% in 2010), with increasing diversity including 41.3% Hispanic, 22.1% Black, and 7.0% Asian residents.
Dallas County, TX population by year, race, & more — USAFacts
In the 2022 midterm elections in Texas, White voter turnout was 52.3%, compared to 41.9% for Black voters (a 10.4 percentage point gap) and 34.2% for Latino voters (an 18.1 percentage point gap), with these disparities widening since 2008.
Growing Racial Disparities in Voter Turnout, 2008–2022 — Brennan Center for Justice
In 2022, Texas's restrictive mail voting law led to higher rejection rates for mail ballot applications and ballots among Black (9.3%) and Latino (8.7%) voters compared to White voters (5.6%), resulting in racial disparities in disenfranchisement.
Records Show Massive Disenfranchisement and Racial Disparities in 2022 Texas Primary — Brennan Center for Justice
A 2025 study found that Texas's 2021 restrictive voting law caused affected voters to be 5-10% less likely to vote in subsequent elections (2022 and 2024), with lasting suppression effects particularly among those whose mail ballots were rejected.
Study Reveals the Lasting Voter Suppression Effects of Restrictive Texas Law — Brennan Center for Justice
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Rep. Julie Johnson, a Dallas-area Democrat, has introduced federal legislation to set nationwide minimum requirements for notifying voters of polling place changes in federal elections.
- The bill would require states to notify affected voters at least seven days before Election Day by mail, telephone and, if possible, text and email whenever their polling place has changed since the previous federal election.
- If a polling location is changed within seven days of a federal election, the bill directs states to make 'every reasonable effort' to enable the affected voter to cast a ballot on Election Day.
- Dallas County elections officials say they did send text messages, mailed notices, and ran social media and streaming ads to alert voters about the return to precinct-based voting on Election Day.
- Johnson is now headed to a May 26 Democratic runoff with former Rep. Colin Allred in Texas’ 33rd Congressional District.