County elections official favors ground-floor early voting; supervisors table decision for site visit

Courtney, the county’s commissioner of elections, told the Carroll County Board of Supervisors that the upstairs hallway currently used for early voting lacks privacy and is too congested for multi-day early voting operations. “It's my responsibility to make sure that our elections are secure and people, when they come in here to vote, they have the privacy that they're due,” Courtney said, arguing the ground floor would offer more room and less foot traffic.

Several supervisors raised objections. One member expressed concern about stairs and handicap access if voting were relocated, asking where a handicap-accessible station would be placed. Another supervisor cautioned that moving early voting downstairs could create confusion with the treasurer’s office and block building circulation during busy periods. Supervisors also noted practical issues: the county would need at least two dependable workers to staff a 20-day early voting operation and would have to move equipment and supplies that are stored on a different floor.

After a lengthy discussion that included possible interim fixes (privacy curtains or portable screens) and a suggestion to trial the change during the primary, a supervisor moved to table the item until all five supervisors, including Scott, can visit the space and reassess. The board agreed to table the decision and to perform a site visit before making a final determination for November's early voting schedule.

The board did not adopt any permanent change at this meeting; supervisors agreed to a site visit and to consider a trial during the primary if practical.