Bullet-resistant glass for the Records Building and triple the security at voting sites: Dallas County's election plan

Dallas County has tripled the security at its early voting sites and plans to install bullet-resistant glass at the downtown Records Building, the county's elections administration manager told commissioners Tuesday, KERA News reported.

Deatrice Kirk said the county is relying on its marshals, with help from Dallas police, constables and other agencies in several cities. On Election Day, Nov. 3, marshals will be on duty around the clock, and that 24-hour coverage will continue through Nov. 15, she told the court. "We will have presence in and outside of the building," Kirk said.

Glass at the Records Building

The Records Building in downtown Dallas holds offices for county leaders and is also an early voting location. Kirk said crews will put level 4 security glass, about 2 inches thick, across the front of the building first and then work along the sides until the building is covered. She said the work is in this year's budget.

County administrators said the full price of the election security plan will not be known until the election is over, but they expect it to come in above what the county budgeted for security in the 2024 cycle. Security for Election Day alone, covering the sheriff, marshals, constables and Dallas police, is estimated at just under $100,000, according to KERA.

Debate at the meeting

One participant in the discussion urged the court to go further, saying he feared federal actions that could disrupt vote counting or intimidate voters at polling places, and asking the county to raise both staffing and spending for election security. Commissioner John Wiley Price answered that county officials had planned for a range of scenarios.

"It is built into the equation," Price said, adding that he would not go into details.

Sources

kera.org