With the primary just days away next Tuesday, Tarrant County is in a full-on scramble to find workers for its polling places. County officials say they still need more than 200 election clerks and roughly two dozen judges to run about 200 voting sites. If they come up short, some polling locations could be merged or temporarily closed, which would likely slow voting and stretch out those already dreaded Election Day lines.
Shortage by the numbers
Tarrant County Elections Administrator Clint Ludwig told the Fort Worth Report the office is short about 26 election judges and roughly 200 clerks for next Tuesday's primary. Staffers, he said, have been "working the phones feverishly" to fill shifts. The county has also moved training online so last-minute recruits can complete the required prep over the weekend, a move aimed at getting as many new workers as possible ready in time.
Parties racing to fill shifts
The county's political parties are now in rapid-response mode. The Tarrant County Democratic Party blasted out an SOS text on Wednesday night trying to plug a roughly 90-person gap. Executive director Reyne Telles said the party has spent "a couple thousand dollars" and is vetting more than 150 potential workers, according to NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth. A GOP spokesperson told the station that last-minute staffing shortfalls are not unusual, and both parties say they are willing to share workers if that is what it takes to keep polling places open.
Long days, low pay and language needs
Working an election is not exactly a quick side gig. Clerks are typically expected to arrive before 6 a.m. to set up and can be asked to stay into the evening, which makes for a very long day. On top of that, the county is looking for roughly 75 to 80 bilingual Spanish speakers and 10 to 15 bilingual Vietnamese speakers to cover linguistically diverse precincts, according to the Fort Worth Report. Officials say repeated runoffs and a heavy election calendar since October have also worn down the usual pool of volunteers.
Why this matters
Short staffing is not just a behind-the-scenes headache, it can change how and where people vote. Texas elections have seen polling places shut when parties could not supply judges, including during the 2022 primary when some sites across the state temporarily closed, according to The Texas Tribune. State law requires a judge from each party at split-primary sites, and that rule has historically forced counties to reallocate or combine locations in order to avoid turning voters away altogether.
How to sign up
Any registered voter in Tarrant County who can commit to a long day of work can apply online. The county posts the poll worker application, training videos and contact information on its elections page. The Tarrant County Elections site lists eligibility rules, pay rates and the form to submit, along with a phone number for anyone who prefers to call in.
With early voting already underway and Election Day looming on Tuesday, officials are urging neighbors, students and civic groups to step up for a one-day shift that keeps polling places running smoothly. "You can't open something you don't have people to work," Ludwig told NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth, adding that the county will jump in on recruitment when judges are in short supply.
