Official Statement from James Talarico on Proposed Tarrant County Polling Place Closures - Texas Metro News

Sixty-one years ago this week, the Voting Rights Act guaranteed every American could vote without fear of discrimination — a fight for which generations of Black Americans marched, bled, and died to win. Today, immense public pressure forced Tarrant County officials to table their plan to close nearly half their polling places — 140 in all. This is a victory for people power — when Texans stand together and raise our voices, politicians are forced to listen. But our fight is not over: there will be another vote next month, and if it succeeds, Tarrant County voters will experience longer commutes, longer lines, and lower turnout, especially in Black and brown communities. They wouldn’t be trying so hard to stop us from voting if our votes weren’t powerful. We need to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act and stop these voter suppression efforts across the country.” James Talarico is an eighth-generation Texan, former middle school teacher, and Presbyterian seminarian. Born to a single mom in Round Rock, James earned degrees from The University of Texas at Austin, Harvard University, and Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. Before serving in the Legislature, he taught English on...