The Caroline County Board of Elections convened on August 8, 2025, to discuss preparations for the upcoming 2026 elections, focusing on equipment updates, staffing needs, and candidate filings.

A significant highlight from the meeting was the completion of battery replacements in scanning units and ballot marking devices, which were carried out on July 25. This proactive maintenance ensures that voting equipment is reliable and ready for use in future elections. Additionally, the board is actively scheduling election-related tasks and has begun reaching out to polling places for their availability, with Colonel Richardson's auditorium confirmed as a venue.

In an effort to streamline operations, the board has ordered new election supply bags and chief judge clipboards, designed to enhance efficiency for election judges. The color-coded supply bags will help judges quickly identify materials, while the new clipboards will allow them to manage forms more easily without the cumbersome binders used previously. These changes aim to reduce setup time and improve the overall voting experience.

The board also reported on staffing efforts, noting that 90 individuals have expressed interest in serving as election judges, though they still need to recruit more, particularly from the Republican party. With a minimum of 103 judges required for election day, the board is reaching out to local party committees to bolster recruitment efforts.

As of August 4, six candidates have filed for local contests, with more expected as the election date approaches. The board emphasized the importance of community engagement in the electoral process and encouraged residents to participate in upcoming training sessions for election judges.

In conclusion, the meeting underscored the board's commitment to ensuring a smooth electoral process in 2026, with ongoing preparations and community involvement being key components of their strategy. The next steps will involve finalizing training schedules and continuing outreach for additional election judges to meet staffing requirements.