Angela Macias was shaken — but still determined — when poll workers told her Tuesday that she couldn't vote at her regular polling place in Dallas.

The Dallas ISD teacher left Reilly Elementary School more than 30 minutes later after arguing, crying and finally, voting.

She fears other voters who got turned away might have left without a fight, although she doesn't believe poll workers had an agenda.

"I don't think they were doing it intentionally," she said, "and I don't think it was malicious voter suppression."

When Macias, 41, and her husband arrived at the school auditorium just after the polls opened at 7 a.m., they were told they were either not registered to vote or had come to the wrong place.

Macias, a one-time freelancer for The Dallas Morning News, found that she and her husband were both registered to vote, and their polling place was indeed Reilly Elementary. After being told she was wrong a second time, a tearful Macias spoke to a supervisor who pointed her in the right direction: a second line at the same polling place.

“How would people know that with no sign?” Macias asked. “There’s two separate polling places here, and they’re telling people not to go to the other line, but that this isn’t their polling place.”

Macias, upset that people had likely been turned away for the same issue and might not get to vote, shared her concerns with some local parents who were working security at the school. She said the parents then put up signs and began to tell people about the two precincts.

“The lines weren’t well-marked, and I don’t think poll workers were educated on it,” Macias said.

Voters can find voting information including polling places by county here.

Report a problem

The Dallas Morning News is participating in the Electionland coalition of newsrooms around the country covering problems that prevent eligible voters from casting their ballots during the 2018 elections. If you see or have a problem, please notify Electionland through: