Southlake officials reopened streets near Town Hall on Saturday after complaints that DiwaliFest closures affected access to the early voting site. The Tarrant County Republican Party filed legal action over access concerns, The Dallas Morning News reported. The city said it worked with festival organizers to reduce the event’s footprint and make more parking available, while maintaining that Town Hall’s entrances stayed open to voters throughout the day. Organizers canceled the fireworks show, and the city later reopened remaining streets near Rustin and Family parks, the newspaper reported.
The city’s account does not establish whether voters had difficulty reaching the polling place. The Dallas Morning News reported that it remained unclear whether anyone was prevented from voting or had trouble getting to the site.
Accessibility standards at polling places
According to VoteTexas.gov, the Texas Secretary of State’s voter-information site, polling places must meet accessibility standards that include removing barriers impeding the path of a person with a physical disability to the voting station. That general requirement does not establish whether access was impeded at Southlake Town Hall.
Turnout figures do not explain the change
Southlake Town Hall recorded 1,773 voters Friday and 1,444 Saturday, a drop of 329, or about 18.6 percent. Saturday was the location’s lowest daily count during the first six days of early voting, The Dallas Express reported, citing county records. Saturday’s voting schedule was three hours longer than Friday’s. The totals show a difference in turnout but do not establish why it changed or whether voters faced access problems.
Councilmember Chuck Taggart argued in comments reported by The Dallas Express that low turnout or short lines would not, by themselves, prove access was unaffected. He said daily totals cannot determine how many people may have been deterred and questioned whether the city had adequately considered the effects of scheduling a large event at Town Hall during early voting. Taggart also called for periodic council review of permits for events affecting streets, city facilities and public access. These are his views as reported by the outlet; no independent interview is represented here.
Southlake Town Hall is listed as an early voting location for the November 3 election. Registered Tarrant County voters can use any county early voting center, according to the City of Southlake. Early voting runs through October 30, with hours varying by day; Election Day is November 3, according to Fox 4.
