TARRANT COUNTY, Texas — Things got heated inside the Tarrant County Commissioners Court on Tuesday as the debate over polling place closures drew hours of passionate testimony.

Nearly 100 people signed up to speak against proposals to reduce both early voting and Election Day sites. Only one person—a polling place judge—voiced support.

“I am not surprised because the only thing y’all are good for is suppressing people’s right to vote,” Stacy Melo said at the podium.

Another speaker, Lydia Bean, added, “I am speaking here today to ask you not to adopt this proposal of polling locations which are disproportionately in Black and Latino neighborhoods.”

After the vote, Bean called the outcome “a partial win for democracy. But over 100 of us had to come out and speak.”

The changes approv

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