Montgomery County Board of Elections ((BOE) is working hard to maintain a safe and secure presidential election, Director Boris Brajkovic told the Washington Metropolitan Council of Governments (COG) Wednesday.
The process “is ongoing 365 days a year,” he said, adding, “It actually takes a village” to hold a successful election process.
The county maintains 232 polling places, 58 drop boxes and 14 early voting sites, Brajkovic said.
Since the pandemic, there has been an increase in voting by mail, and the election board is about to send out 147,000 ballots later this month. In an effort to make sure residents receive their ballots in a timely fashion, members of the BOE met with every postmaster in Montgomery County earlier this week.
Throughout the year, the BOE frequents county events and school gatherings to both find people to work as election judges and staff and also to answer any questions voters might have, he said.
This is done to stop disinformation about the safety and security of elections, Brajkovic, adding the BOE opens its meetings to residents, both in person and virtually.
While accusations of election corruption are not as rampant as they were during recent elections, “We are not out of the storm,” he said.
Therefore, he said, “We plan for the eventuality of emergencies,” noting that the BOE has designated back up polling places should any need to quickly close down.
He praised election workers who watch the news and follow social media and yet still “step forward” to help out. However, he noted, “Fewer people are stepping forward” and there is a need for more workers.
County councilmember Evan Glass, who is a COG committee member, praised the BOE for its work, noting, “All you are doing, I think, leads to safe outcomes.”
