ROWLETT, Texas — The only early voting location in Rowlett could be forced to close just weeks before voting is set to begin in Dallas County.
Concerns about whether Rowlett’s early voting location – Freedom Place Church at 4111 Main Street – could accommodate crowds for early voting with 10 parking spots led city officials to question how the church got a permit to operate in the building at all. Early voting for the Nov. 5 election begins Oct. 21 and runs through Nov. 1.
Rowlett has a population of about 64,000, according to its website, and Rowlett Mayor Blake Margolis said more than 22,150 people early voted at the Rowlett Community Centre, averaging about 1,800 people per day, in the 2020 presidential election and he expects a higher turnout this year.
Rowlett Director of Community Development Cori Reaume sent a letter to the church Monday that said “a recent review of the Certificate of Occupancy issued for the structure at 4111 Main Street…indicates that the Certificate of Occupancy was issued in error.”
Reaume said in the letter the church had 10 days from that point to provide an outline of their “calculations for required parking and your proposal for parking spaces to be provided on or immediately adjacent to your site.”
Margolis had called for using the Rowlett Community Centre as an early voting location instead.
“The Rowlett Community Centre, located at 5300 Main St., has more than 200 parking spaces, indoor queuing capacity, and a proven track record as a successful Early Voting and Election Day site in the last 2020 Presidential Election. Despite this, Dallas County has opted to use a location that clearly lacks the necessary facilities and legal compliance,” Margolis said in a post on social media.
Margolis specifically raised concerns about parking and the church’s size in its use as an early voting location.
“Texas Election Code § 43.031 and § 85.062 mandates that polling places provide adequate space and accessibility. 4111 Main St offers only 9 regular parking spaces and 1 handicap-accessible space, which is grossly inadequate for the turnout expected during a major Presidential Election. This insufficient space and parking directly contradicts the principles of the Texas Election Code,” Margolis wrote. “Additionally, due to the building's limited size, voters will possibly be forced to queue outdoors, further risking voter suppression, especially for elderly and vulnerable populations.”
At a Dallas County Commissioners Court meeting this week, residents, including Katherine Kirk, also expressed concerns about the location.
“I think we should have a safe place to vote not be in an environment where there’s only nine spots, we’ve got 1,000 people a day going through,” Kirk said.
District 3 County Commissioner John Wiley Price, who represents Rowlett, sought to assuage concerns that the size of the church may lead to voters lining up outside.
“The Dallas County Elections Department thoroughly reviewed and surveyed the church, giving it a rating of 97.9 confirming that it meets the county’s strict requirements for voting sites,” Price said. “It’s important to note that outdoor queuing is common during major elections across numerous polling sites. Voter turnout is often unpredictable and long lines are a common feature of the engaged electorate.”
In response to the concerns about the early voting location, Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins’ chief of staff Lauren Trimble said the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office and Dallas County Elections Department are looking into the issue.
“Our District Attorney's Office and the Elections Department are working with the City of Rowlett and looking into this matter,” the statement read. “The eligible voters of Rowlett should rest assured that they’ll have the opportunity to cast their vote during Early Voting or on Election Day in a safe and secure environment without unnecessary delay.”
