The Baltimore County Board of Elections voted unanimously during a January 2026 special meeting to approve a plan designating 258 election‑day polling locations for the 2026 election.

Elections staff said the increase in precincts — from 243 to 258 — was necessary because the county’s Board of Education districts will remain at seven while the council expanded to nine, producing new splits that require single ballot styles per precinct. "Everybody within that precinct votes the same thing," Rui said, explaining the operational goal behind the precinct map changes.

Staff outlined practical steps to reduce voter confusion: mailed voter notification cards listing each voter’s congressional, legislative, council and Board of Education districts and their polling location; signage and greeters at polling places; and a sample practice ballot that will remind voters the Board of Education district no longer mirrors the council district.

Site selection criteria and operational preparations were described in detail. Staff said they survey every location for ADA access and entrances, test cell signals for multiple carriers, verify parking and generator access, confirm room layouts for check‑in and scanners, and arrange two‑week delivery windows to deploy voting equipment securely. Rui said the election judge/poll worker budget for the cycle is $1,300,000 and that the office has just enough existing equipment for the next election; she added that new voting equipment is planned for 2028.

The presentation noted several location changes: the Ag Center will no longer be used because of parking conflicts and site conditions, and May Chapel Elementary was cited as a closer replacement for voters in that area. Staff said most polling places are schools because they meet ADA requirements and are familiar to voters; nine school buildings were noted as under construction or renovation and therefore unavailable.

During the public‑comment portion, one speaker said she intended to discuss early voting and a Middle River site; Rui clarified this meeting covered election‑day polling locations only and offered to add early‑voting concerns to the February agenda. Linda Dorsey Walker raised several questions about ballot boxes and the use of Solis Point Multipurpose Center; Rui replied that the Solis Point site was not available for election day polling locations and that administration had been consulted on the plan.

Derek moved and Al seconded the motion to approve the 258 polling locations that had been shared with the board electronically; the vote was unanimous among the four board members present.

The board scheduled its next regular meeting for February 25 at 10 a.m.