Committee approves minimal-change polling-site plan for 2026–2027; staff to notify affected voters

The Government Affairs Committee voted to adopt a minimal-change plan (Option A) for polling places for the 2026–2027 election cycle and instructed the city clerk’s office to proceed with notification and logistics.

City Clerk Zach told the committee two existing hosts — Trinity Episcopal Church and Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church — declined to continue hosting elections, and that the Molnar Building has reopened following renovations but has space and accessibility constraints. The clerk presented two options: Option A (minimal changes, relocating only voters affected by the two closures) and Option B (a site-optimization plan that would reassign several wards to balance crowding and underutilization and accommodate the transition from eight to 12 aldermanic districts). The clerk said registered-voter counts used in the analysis were pulled on Oct. 10 and would change slightly before the election.

After discussion, Alder Molineux moved to adopt Option A (minimal changes): relocate Wards 5 and 6A (previously at Trinity) and Wards 22–24B (previously at Annunciation) to new sites identified in the clerk’s memo (Hoyt Park Great Hall and Curry Park Clubhouse, respectively). Alder Phillips seconded. The motion passed unanimously. Committee members and staff noted the statutory deadline to establish polling places for February elections is Jan. 18 and that the clerk’s office will send mailed notices to affected households.

Votes at a glance: Adopt Option A (minimal change) for 2026–2027 polling sites; staff to finalize site assignments, prepare voter postcards, and return with any outstanding logistics for compliance before the January statutory deadline.