The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Sept. 4, 2026
TARRANT COUNTY, TX –Just eight weeks from the midterm election, Tarrant County, Texas commissioners voted to close one third of the growing county’s polling places. And in California, after Shasta County announced it hired felony-convicted Mesa County Colorado Clerk Tina Peters to help run its elections, Peters now says she didn’t accept the job.
We reported earlier this week that Tarrant County commissioners were considering cutting 93 polling places for financial reasons, but the county has a pattern of partisan voter suppression. In the face of blistering criticism from voters and pro-democracy groups, the commission voted 3 to 2 to close 92 locations, one third of the 2022 number, leaving 224 locations open.
August 16th, Shasta County, California Registrar of Voters Clint Curtis announced he would be hiring convicted Mesa County, Colorado clerk Tina Peters as his assistant. Peters served only 19 months of a nine-year sentence for giving unauthorized access to the county’s Dominion ballot tabulators to outside election deniers. Her sentence was commuted by Colorado’s governor in May, causing a furor among election officials.
Calling the job offer “a disgrace,” California Governor Gavin Newsom called on the State of Colorado not to transfer Peters’ parole supervision out of Colorado to block her hiring. Sept. 1st, the Shasta Scout reported that in a statement, Peters said she has not accepted the position.
We’ve linked to the local reporting at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
Texas Tribune – Tarrant County removes 92 polling sites ahead of November election
Tarrant County Commissioner Court – Video of Sept. 1 meeting
KNVN – Shasta County ROV says he wants to hire Tina Peters next month
Gov. Gavin Newsom – Post on ‘X’ regarding Tina Peters
Shasta Scout – Shasta elections official says Tina Peters won’t be working in Shasta
Related ADM Reports:
American Democracy Minute – Tarrant County, TX Proposes Eliminating 93 Polling Places Just Before the 2026 Election for Financial Reasons. Voters Aren’t Buying It.
American Democracy Minute – (2024) Colorado Election Official Who Allowed 2020 Conspiracy Theory Activists Access to County Voting Machine Data Found Guilty
American Democracy Minute – Five Years After the 2020 Election, More Election Denier Turmoil in Shasta County, CA
Groups Taking Action:
Texas Civil Rights Project, Legal Defense Fund, League of Women Voters Tarant County
Common Cause California, League of Women Voters Redding, Common Cause CO, States United Democracy Center, Issue One
Please follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Bluesky Social, and SHARE!
Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org
Subscribe for FREE at Apple Podcasts, Spotify and most podcasting platforms.
Are you a radio station? Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network’s Audioport and PRX
#News #Democracy #DemocracyNews #TarrantCounty #Texas #ShastaCounty #California #TinaPeters #ElectionDeniers #VoterSuppression