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Allegany County elections staff recommend keeping 2024 polling places and drop‑box locations for 2026; board to decide on pickup staffing
Summary
Staff recommended the same polling places and early voting center used in 2024 for the 2026 cycle and asked the board whether election staff or contracted workers should collect ballots from drop boxes; staff reported 717 general‑election drop‑box deposits countywide and 508 at Mountain Ridge.
Allegany County election staff recommended keeping the same polling places, early voting center and ballot drop‑box locations used in 2024 for the 2026 elections, and asked the board to consider whether the county should pay staff or hire outside workers to perform drop‑box pickups.
Diane presented the 2026 election calendar and said staff’s recommendation is to “use the same polling places for 2026 that we used in 2024.” She said facility use agreements have been sent and that the county has received 16 of 28 polling‑place agreements back; she noted Allegheny College of Maryland plans renovations beginning in December and said that is not expected to affect 2026 but could be relevant for 2028.
Staff recommended continued use of the County Office Complex, Room 100, as the early voting center. On drop boxes, Diane said permanent camera and lighting installations are in place at Mountain Ridge and at the County Office Complex and recommended keeping the same drop‑box sites used in 2024. She asked the board whether members wanted the board to perform pickups or for the office to hire people to do the work; members discussed mileage reimbursement, hourly pay and required background checks for contracted pickups.
Diane reported drop‑box usage from the prior general election: “We had 717 ballots deposited in our drop box, for the general election. And we had 508 deposited at Mountain Ridge.” Board members discussed the operational cost of making frequent pickups — especially in larger jurisdictions — and acknowledged the activity has become more popular with voters.
Staff also described two separate memoranda of understanding: one covering early‑voting room access and responsibilities (including signage and exit‑polling rules) and a separate MOU for Mountain Ridge that documents the county’s control of that site and the county’s responsibilities for drop‑box monitoring and signage. The board did not vote on the plan at the July 1 meeting; Diane said the office will present MOUs and a final polling‑place plan at the next meeting.
