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Frostburg election board outlines timeline, canvass and counting plans for June election
Summary
The Frostburg City Board of Elections reviewed the ballot-mailing schedule, canvass procedures and staffing for the June election, set ballot mailing between April 28–May 8, and unanimously tabled a vote to finalize standard operating procedures for later review.
The Frostburg City Board of Elections on Jan. 29 reviewed key logistics ahead of the June election, including ballot mailing dates, canvassing schedules and steps to verify and count mail-in ballots.
Staff told the board that "the ballot box will officially become available starting April 28, 8AM, and stay open 24 7," and that election-day hours are technically 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. while the box remains accessible once opened. Officials outlined a canvass schedule that begins tentatively June 3 with daily sessions (10 a.m.–4 p.m.) and the option to resume counting the following day "as necessary," with 24-hour public notice required before canvassing sessions.
Why it matters: The board walked through procedures designed to preserve ballot anonymity and public confidence: ballots returned in signed oath envelopes will be counted first as sealed envelopes, signatures will be checked against the voter roll, questionable ballots will be set aside for board review, and accepted ballots will then be removed from envelopes and tallied. Staff said counts are cross-checked multiple times and recorded on standardized canvassing worksheets.
Staff recommended establishing limited blocks of time for voter assistance (for people who need help completing ballots), instead of staffing the box all day. The board discussed using staff or trained volunteers and placing a table in the police station lobby or a conference room near the ballot box to provide private assistance if requested.
The board also discussed room logistics and public observation: canvassing is planned in a room (referenced as Room 100) arranged so observers can watch at a distance; staff will look into stanchions and the possibility of livestreaming the canvass.
Next steps: The board tentatively set a follow-up meeting for mid-February to finalize schedules and asked staff to share the county-provided voter lists for verification. The board moved and unanimously approved tabling formal approval of the written standard operating procedures to allow members time to review the materials before taking a final vote.
