Republican parties in Texas's Dallas and Williamson counties are reverting to countywide voting for the May 26 runoff, which features a race between Sen. John Cornyn and AG Ken Paxton. The change follows widespread voter confusion and long lines during the March 3 primary, which used a precinct-based system at the GOP's request. Democrats say they warned the move would cause chaos and turn people away from the polls.
May 26 primary runoffs
- ▪A primary runoff election is scheduled for May 26 in Texas for candidates who failed to secure over 50% of the vote in the March primary
- ▪The Republican U.S. Senate primary runoff will feature incumbent Sen. John Cornyn against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton
- ▪Voters who participated in a party's primary in March must vote in the same party's runoff, while those who didn't vote can choose either party
Countywide voting policy switch
- ▪Dallas County Republican Party Chair Allen West cited "increased risk and voter confusion" as the reason for returning to countywide voting
- ▪The Texas Democratic Party stated it had warned Republican leadership that the precinct-only system would cause problems for voters
- ▪A Dallas County judge ordered Democratic polling sites to stay open for two extra hours on March 3, but the Texas Supreme Court blocked the ruling
- ▪Under the precinct-based system used on March 3, voters had to cast ballots at specific assigned neighborhood locations on Election Day
- ▪The policy change follows voter confusion, long waits, and disruptions during the March 3 primary, which used a precinct-based system
- ▪The Republican Parties in Dallas and Williamson counties will switch back to a countywide voting system for the May 26 runoff
- ▪During the March 3 primary, a judge ordered two Williamson County polling places to stay open for three extra hours due to long waits
- ▪The Williamson County Republican Party stated its decision to return to countywide voting was a response to voter frustration and anger
- ▪The initial switch to precinct-level voting for the March primary was requested by the Republican parties in Dallas and Williamson counties
- ▪In Dallas County, Republicans initially sought precinct-level voting to facilitate hand-counting ballots, a plan later abandoned due to high costs
Voter registration requirements
- ▪To register, eligible Texans must submit a paper voter registration application by the April 27 deadline, as online registration is limited
- ▪The deadline to register to vote or submit an address change for the May 26 runoff is April 27
- ▪U.S. citizens in Texas who are 18 or older by Election Day are eligible to register to vote
Early voting procedures
- ▪Early voting for the May 26 runoff will take place from May 18 to May 22
Mail-in ballot eligibility
- ▪Mail-in ballots must be postmarked by 7 p.m. on Election Day, May 26, and received by the county by 5 p.m. the next day
- ▪The deadline for counties to receive applications to vote by mail for the runoff is May 15
- ▪Eligibility for mail-in voting in Texas is limited to those who are 65 or older, sick or disabled, out of the county, or confined in jail
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