Rockingham County elections board approves new polling locations for 2026 primary after public concerns about notification and parking

The Rockingham County Board of Elections voted Thursday to move multiple election-day polling locations and two early-voting sites for the 2026 primary, prompting public questions about notification, parking and safety.

Chair (unnamed) presented the recommended changes and said the county sought publicly owned sites ‘‘so we have more control’’ over operations and can better ensure ADA compliance, parking and curbside voting. The recommended changes, moved by Dr. Jones and seconded by a board member, set election-day locations for Draper at Mill Avenue Recreation Center; Eden at Douglas Elementary School; Eden Central at Morehead High School; Reedsville 2 at Reedsville Middle School; and Reedsville 1 at Moss Street Elementary. The motion also named Eden City Hall and Penrose Mall as early-voting sites and left Stoneville Elementary on the roster at Sharon Community Outreach Center by exception. Chair announced the motion carried after a voice vote; Miss Gutierrez registered opposition.

Why it matters: staff said the state board had urged the use of public buildings over private sites so county officials can better control election-day conditions and minimize interference in privately owned locations. Board and staff argued publicly owned sites also tend to have more parking and easier traffic flow for older voters, a key consideration in Rockingham County’s older-skewing electorate.

Public concerns: during a 30-minute public comment period, Joyce Anderson, a former civics and history teacher from Reedsville, asked that “each voter” be notified by mail of any precinct or polling-site change to avoid confusion. Malcolm Allen of Eaton urged the board not to move polling places out of churches, saying schools expose children to election activity and raising concerns about safety; that claim was disputed in discussion by the chair and other members, who noted schools will be closed on voting days per the school system’s commitment. Steve Griffith, pastor at Osborne Baptist Church, also urged retaining churches because voters trust them.

Notification and scale: staff member Paula Seamster told the board that roughly 9,000 mailings tied to an earlier set of boundary changes already went out and estimated that if the board approved all proposed moves another roughly 24,000 voters across Draper, Eden, Eden Central, Reedsville 1 and 2 and Stoneville would need to be notified. Seamster said she would provide a postage cost estimate at the next meeting and that she can reallocate funds if necessary. She also reminded members that precinct names did not change because the board was not altering boundaries, just polling locations.

Security and access: several board members and public speakers said parking and ADA access drove site selection. Speakers who had visited Stoneville Elementary and Central Elementary warned limited parking could pose problems for voters with disabilities; the board agreed to remove Stoneville Elementary from the proposed changes and retain Sharon Community Outreach Center for that precinct.

Board process and timing: some board members and public commenters objected that the proposed changes were being finalized close to the March primary and said candidates and the public should have had more advance notice. Dr. Jones and others said early voting for the primary does not begin until Feb. 12 and that mail notice would arrive in time; the board noted the state recently approved boundary changes and some notifications had already been distributed.

Other actions: the board also approved its list of chief judges for election day and early voting, moved its regular meeting time 30 minutes earlier (from 6:30 to 6:00 p.m.), and received a director’s update with key dates: candidate filing closes Dec. 19 at noon; absentee-by-mail ballots begin Jan. 12, 2026; county canvas is March 13, 2026; and a possible second-primary date is May 12, 2026.

What’s next: staff will provide a postage cost estimate for additional mailings at the next meeting and confirmed written agreements will be sent to the school system and other site owners where appropriate. The precinct-location changes approved Thursday are effective for the 2026 primary unless the board later amends them.

Quotes (selected): "I ask that you, by mail, inform each voter of the changes in their voting precinct," said Joyce Anderson of Reedsville. Dr. Jones, who moved the all-inclusive motion, said the changes were intended to "improve the voting for every citizen in this county." "The ayes have it," the chair said after the voice vote, which included a recorded objection from Miss Gutierrez.

Ending: The board completed the agenda, approved the other procedural items and adjourned after closing remarks thanking staff and members of the public for attending.