By Theodore Bunker
Wednesday, March 18, 2026
Dallas County Republican Party Chairman Allen West announced on Tuesday that the party will revert to countywide voting for the upcoming primary runoff, stating the move is critical to preventing voter confusion and operational hazards following the party’s recent precinct-based voting experiment.
In a statement released Tuesday, West said the party’s March 3 primary—which used a precinct-specific system instead of traditional countywide vote centers—was successful but unsustainable for the runoff election. “There comes a time to know when to claim success and not go a bridge too far,” West added. “We will assess lessons learned and improve procedures for March 2028.”
West plans to sign an amended contract to conduct a “non-joint countywide runoff election,” reversing the precinct-based model used earlier in the month. The decision comes as Dallas County prepares for a May 26 primary runoff, alongside municipal elections and early voting throughout April and May.
West emphasized that implementing precinct-only voting on Election Day during the runoff would cause significant disruption. “From late April through May, there will be municipal elections and early voting,” he stated. “All of these elections are countywide.”
The March 3 primary drew statewide attention after Dallas County Republicans abandoned the standard practice of countywide vote centers for that election, requiring voters to cast ballots at assigned precinct locations. Under Texas law, if one party opts out of countywide voting centers, both parties must use precinct-based voting on Election Day—a change that led to confusion and legal disputes during the primary.
West initially praised the precinct-based system, stating Republican voters “adapted and overcame” the shift. However, the party’s broader election strategy has faced instability in recent months, including a high-profile effort to hand-count ballots abandoned due to logistical and legal concerns.
West, a retired Army lieutenant colonel and former Texas GOP chairman who became Dallas County party chair in 2024, framed the decision as a strategic risk assessment. He also cited national media scrutiny as a factor in the reversal. “Those who disagree with this decision are free to seek to replace me as Chairman,” West stated.
The shift back to countywide voting aligns Dallas County Republicans with most Texas jurisdictions during runoff elections, which typically rely on centralized vote centers to manage lower turnout and streamline operations. The May 26 runoff will determine nominees for several key local offices appearing on the November general election ballot. Election officials have not yet released polling locations but expect countywide voting to allow voters to cast ballots at any open location rather than being restricted to a single precinct.
