Dallas Attorney Kyle Pugh Secures Access to Polls for North Texas Voters

When Dallas County designated only one early voting location in Rowlett, Texas, attorney Kyle Pugh successfully sued the Dallas County Commissioners and a Dallas County Elections Administrator in Dallas District Court.

Less than two weeks before early voting in the 2024 presidential election begins, Mr. Pugh obtained a temporary restraining order mandating that Dallas County also hold early voting at a nearby public community center.

Mr. Pugh represented Rowlett Mayor Blake Margolis, in his capacity as a citizen, and other residents in their pursuit of a polling location that would provide Dallas County voters with greater access to the polls.

Voting should be made easier, not harder. Greater access to the polls is a fundamental right in our democracy, and I am honored to advocate for the voters of Dallas County.

— Attorney Kyle Pugh

The order, signed by Associate Judge Rachel Craig, sitting for the 95th Judicial District Court, mandates that Dallas County officials open a second polling location at the Rowlett Community Center, which hosted more than 1,800 voters per day during the 2020 presidential election.

The controversy stems from the August 2023 appointment of Freedom Place Church as an early polling location by Dallas County officials. The church has nine parking spaces and one ADA-compliant parking space, which it shares with multiple tenants.

The Rowlett Community Center, less than one mile from the church, has more than 360 parking spaces and sufficient infrastructure to accommodate what is expected to be a record turnout of over 25,000 Dallas County voters. 

Mayor Margolis raised concerns for months that the lack of parking and inadequate facilities at Freedom Place Church would burden many voters, especially the elderly and disabled, which would discourage voters and lead to low voter turnout.

Mr. Pugh filed a lawsuit asserting that Dallas County failed to provide a “suitable public building” and insufficient access for elderly and disabled voters pursuant to the Texas Election Code.

On the same day, the Court ruled that there was a reasonable likelihood that Mr. Pugh’s clients would prevail on their causes of action and that they would suffer irreparable harm if the Court did not grant a temporary restraining order against Dallas County officials.

Acting as a private citizen, Mayor Margolis stated, “This is the right thing to do for the voters of Rowlett. This lawsuit is about right versus wrong, and what is right is to make sure that every voter has an accessible place to vote.”

“Voting should be made easier, not harder,” said Mr. Pugh. “Greater access to the polls is a fundamental right in our democracy, and I am honored to advocate for the voters of Dallas County.”