A Dallas County judge ordered Democratic polling sites to remain open until 9 p.m. Tuesday, two hours past the scheduled closing time, after widespread voter confusion during Texas' primary election. The extension was granted following a petition by the local Democratic Party citing confusion so severe it caused the county election office's website to crash.

The confusion stemmed from a change in voting rules implemented by local Republican parties in Dallas and Williamson counties. Previously, voters in these counties could cast ballots at any polling location within their county. However, for this primary election, local Republican parties opted against the countywide voting system, requiring both major parties to agree for it to remain in effect under state law.

As a result, voters were required to cast ballots only at their assigned precincts on Tuesday. Many voters arrived at their usual polling locations only to be turned away and directed to different sites, sometimes miles away. Nic Solorzano, a spokesperson for the Dallas County Elections Department, said the change required retooling the entire operation after nearly seven years of countywide voting.

The problems had particular significance for the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, where Rep. Jasmine Crockett faced a tight race against state lawmaker James Talarico. Crockett told supporters Tuesday night that the race could not be settled without Dallas County results, stating that "people were disenfranchised."

Later Tuesday evening, the Texas Supreme Court stayed the decisions to extend voting hours in both Dallas and Williamson counties, ordering that ballots cast after the original 7 p.m. deadline be separated. The court's preliminary order did not determine whether these ballots would ultimately be counted.

Dallas County officials attempted to inform voters of the change through signs, advertisements, text messages and mailers. Former poll workers were stationed outside voting locations with tablets to help direct voters to correct precincts. However, local Democratic Party officials reported receiving hundreds of calls from confused voters of both parties seeking help finding their assigned polling locations.