Montgomery County Maryland Operating Budget

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Program Description

Administration

The Administration program of the Board of Elections is responsible for delivering a fundamental and legally-mandated public good by ensuring that all eligible citizens have the right to vote, and that elections are accurate, fair, and equitable. This requires effective management of resources from the State Board of Elections and County government, as well as adherence to all Federal, State, and local laws and regulations. This is accomplished through the following activities: public records management, including the certification of election results with the Board of Canvassers; support to the County Board of Elections and its attorney; compliance with Montgomery County Government policies and regulations related to human resources, procurement, budget, etc.; liaising with the Maryland State Board of Elections; compliance with Federal and State statutory and regulatory requirements; and the effective coordination of public information. These combined activities are essential to ensure the accuracy and integrity of the election process and to instill public confidence in election results.

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Board of Elections

Program Contacts

Contact Lisa Merino of the Montgomery County Board of Elections at 240-777-8562 or Anita Aryeetey of the Office of Management and Budget at 240-777-2784 for more information regarding this department's operating budget.

Program Performance Measures

Program Performance Measures	Actual FY24	Actual FY25	Estimated FY26	Target FY27	Target FY28
Total ballots cast (000s) ¹	172	521	220	385	200
Percent of precincts reporting election results by 11:00 p.m.	99.22%	99.10%	96.50%	96.50%	96.50%
Average voter wait time on Election Day (minutes) ²	0	8	3	5	5
Number of public outreach events	303	327	300	250	300

¹ The increase in total ballots cast in FY25 corresponds to the historical pattern of higher voter turnout for a presidential general election.
² The increase in voter wait times is correlated to the higher voter turn out for in-person voting in the 2024 presidential general election.

Program Budget Changes

FY27 Recommended Changes	Expenditures	FTEs
FY26 Approved	5819072	4.00
Increase Cost: Election Judge Stipends	200000	0.00
Increase Cost: Seasonal Temporary Staff	167319	0.00
Increase Cost: Overtime Expenses	59860	0.00
Increase Cost: Outside Postage for Sample Ballots	25000	0.00
Increase Cost: Sample Ballot Printing	21385	0.00
Increase Cost: Two and a Half Percent Inflationary Adjustment to Non-Profit Service Provider Contracts	292	0.00
Decrease Cost: State Board of Elections-Related Operating Expenses	-30000	0.00
Multi-program adjustments, including negotiated compensation changes, employee benefit changes, changes due to staff turnover, reorganizations, and other budget changes affecting multiple programs.	89992	0.00
FY27 Recommended	6352920	4.00