Tarrant County makes changes to reflect new precincts

A month after precinct redistricting, county departments have started work to reflect the new precinct lines, including reviewing over 4,000 web pages for precinct accuracy, updating voter registration and the Tarrant County map, and ensuring that projects are being funded by the correct commissioners.

Democratic Commissioner Alisa Simmons requested the briefing. Afterward, she said that it seemed like the court had no plan for the transition, which she called “very irresponsible.” Simmons’ Precinct 2 is now likely to go Republican.

Simmons said that all employees, constituents and the community must be notified about the redistricting. She requested that the County Administrator brief the court on the impacts at every future meeting.

After thanking the county administrator, Republican Commissioner Manny Ramirez noted that the redistricting process was not “pain-free.”

“To my colleagues on the court, same message: It’s not pain-free,” Ramirez said.

Five Tarrant County residents voiced their disapproval for the redistricting and its impact on voters. Nan Terry stated that the redistricting process targeted marginalized groups.

“You are right. It’s not pain free,” Terry said to Ramirez. “It’s painful.”

The context of the commissioner court redistricting

On June 3, the court approved one of the seven precinct maps proposed by the Public Interest Legal Foundation, a Viriginia-based law firm that aims to protect votes and deliver “real results for election integrity,” according to its website.

All seven maps redrew the lines for precincts 1 and 2 and slightly altered the Republican-represented precincts, favoring Republican voters. Precinct 2, which is represented by Simmons, is now a Republican-leaning district.

Tarrant County residents in favor of the redistricting stated that the precincts must reflect the Republican majority in Tarrant County. They voiced their disapproval of the court’s decision to not redraw the district lines in 2021.

“Tarrant County has consistently elected Republicans to judicial seats, state legislative positions, and other countywide offices,” Judge O’Hare said in a statement on X. “The Commissioners Court precincts will now mirror this political majority.”

Many residents who opposed the redistricting argued that the decision was racially motivated. They pushed the county to keep the current map.

Shortly after the approval, five Tarrant County residents filed a lawsuit against the redistricting, calling it “racially discriminatory” and claiming that the new map disenfranchises 19% of Tarrant County’s Black adults, 12% of Latino adults and 5% of white adults.

The defendants of the lawsuit include Tarrant County, the Tarrant County Commissioners Court and O’Hare.

On Tuesday, the court also voted 3-2 to spend up to $250,000 for the Public Interest Legal Foundation to represent the defense during the lawsuit.