By Aria Jones
2:04 PM on Feb 23, 2022 CST
Some early voting locations for the March primary election are closing as a winter storm brings freezing temperatures and icy road conditions to North Texas.
In Dallas County, it’s business as usual, but other counties are shortening hours.
The closures come just days before early voting ends on Friday. March 1 is Election Day and voters will choose Republican and Democratic candidates ahead of the 2022 midterm elections.
For most of North Texas, a winter storm warning is in effect until 6 p.m. Thursday. The high Wednesday is expected to be about 30 degrees, with a low of 26 tonight, KXAS-TV (NBC5) reported.
NBC5 meteorologist Samantha Davies said there will be breaks in the precipitation through the afternoon Wednesday. But the worst of the weather is still ahead with freezing rain likely overnight Wednesday into Thursday.
The icy conditions have caused travel difficulties, with numerous accidents being reported in North Texas. DART began limiting service Wednesday morning. Rail operations will cease and bus routes will be on a Sunday schedule from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The Federal Aviation Administration also issued ground stops Wednesday morning for incoming flights into DFW International Airport because of icy and cold conditions.
These conditions have led three counties to cut back the hours their polls are open on Wednesday.
Polling location closures
Collin County closed early voting locations and county offices at 2 p.m. because of the icy conditions. They will remain closed through Thursday. Remote court hearings may also be rescheduled and the county says to contact court staff for updates, the county’s website said.
Kaufman County closed early voting locations and its offices at noon because of “declining winter weather conditions,” the county announced on Twitter.
Fannin County, which is north of D-FW, closed its early voting locations at 11 a.m. and administrative offices at 10 a.m., the county clerk said in a news release.
Polls staying open
Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said early on Twitter that it’s business as usual Wednesday and county offices and courts will remain open with no expected delays caused by weather. The county elections office also said that polls would be open.
Jenkins said he talked with the National Weather Service, The Texas Department of Transportation and other county offices.
Tarrant, Denton and Johnson county offices said there were no changes to early voting hours. The Rockwall elections office has also not announced any changes Wednesday.
After conversations with the National Weather Service, TxDOT, Oncor, County Administration, HSEM and county staff, Dallas County offices and courts will be OPEN for business as usual today, Wednesday, February 23. There are no expected significant delays due to weather.
— Clay Jenkins (@JudgeClayJ) February 23, 2022
