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Mission Statement

The mission of the Board of Elections is to register voters, conduct elections, assist persons seeking elective office with candidate filings and campaign fund reports, assist citizens seeking to place questions on the ballot, and preserve election data.

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Budget Overview

The total recommended FY26 Operating Budget for the Montgomery County Board of Elections is $14,234,830, a decrease of $2,906,307 or 16.96 percent from the FY25 Approved Budget of $17,141,137. Personnel Costs comprise 44.12 percent of the budget for 34 full-time position(s) and no part-time position(s), and a total of 56.68 FTEs. Total FTEs may include seasonal or temporary positions and may also reflect workforce charged to or from other departments or funds. Operating Expenses account for the remaining 55.88 percent of the FY26 budget.

County Priority Outcomes

While this program area supports all eight of the County Result Areas, the following are emphasized:

  • Thriving Youth and Families
  • Effective, Sustainable Government

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Program Performance Measures

Performance measures for this department are included below (where applicable), with multi-program measures displayed at the front of this section and program-specific measures shown with the relevant program. The FY25 estimates reflect funding based on the FY25 approved budget. The FY26 and FY27 figures are performance targets based on the FY26 recommended budget and funding for comparable service levels in FY27.

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Innovations and Productivity Improvements

  • The Board of Elections will provide on-site training of election judges and canvassing of mail-in ballots, accommodating the changing voters' preferences that result in the highest number of vote by mail ballots in Maryland.
  • The office expansion will improve operational efficiency and reduce use of outside facilities.
  • Building on the initial efforts made in 2024 elections, Board of Elections will further utilize technological solutions to improve efficiency of election administration at polling places (use of tablets to replace paper forms and streamline real-time communication) and further improve communication with the voters.

Program Descriptions

  Voter Services

Accurate voter registration records are the foundation for fair and equitable elections and are the basis of effective election planning. The Voter Services program administers voter registration and mail-in voting under procedures established by the State Board of Elections and is consistent with election law. Voter Services is also responsible...

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  Election Operations

The Election Operations program consists of three independent sections that ensure that both early voting and Election Day are successful. These sections are Polling Place Management, Election Judge Recruitment, and Training and Outreach.The Polling Place Management section is responsible for leasing early voting locations and Election Day polling places; assigning...

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  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...

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  Information Technology

The Information and Technology (IT) program supports the year-round security of all data and the efficient performance of voting equipment for thousands of voters during an election cycle. The IT program is responsible for network infrastructure; the production of data reports; the maintenance of systems related to election operations; the...

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Budget Trends
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Program Contacts

Contact Lisa Merino of the Montgomery County Board of Elections at 240-777-8562 or Hamza Ahmed of the Office of Management and Budget at 240-777-2783 for more information regarding this department's operating budget.

Related Links
Budget Summary
TitleActual
FY24
Budget
FY25
Estimate
FY25
Recommended
FY26
%Chg
Bud/Rec
COUNTY GENERAL FUND
EXPENDITURES
Salaries and Wages4253502.004806919.00 4809934.00 5093824.006.0
Employee Benefits966817.001055837.00 1208984.00 1186265.0012.4
County General Fund Personnel Costs5220319.005862756.00 6018918.00 6280089.007.1
Operating Expenses7202939.0011278381.00 11122186.00 7954741.00-29.5
Capital Outlay2007.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
County General Fund Expenditures12425265.0017141137.00 17141104.00 14234830.00-17.0
PERSONNEL
Full-Time32.0032.00 32.00 34.006.3
Part-Time2.002.00 2.00 0.00-100.0
FTEs56.3556.35 56.35 56.680.6
REVENUES
Other Charges/Fees762.001300.00 1300.00 1300.000.0
Miscellaneous Revenues749.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
County General Fund Revenues1511.001300.00 1300.00 1300.000.0
 
GRANT FUND - MCG
EXPENDITURES
Salaries and Wages0.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
Employee Benefits0.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
Grant Fund - MCG Personnel Costs0.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
Grant Fund - MCG Expenditures0.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
PERSONNEL
Full-Time0.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
Part-Time0.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
FTEs0.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
Grant Fund - MCG Revenues0.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
 
DEPARTMENT TOTALS
Total Expenditures12425265.0017141137.00 17141104.00 14234830.00-17.0
Total Full-Time Positions32.0032.00 32.00 34.006.3
Total Part-Time Positions2.002.00 2.00 0.00-100.0
Total FTEs56.3556.35 56.35 56.680.6
Total Revenues1511.001300.00 1300.00 1300.000.0
FY26 Recommended Changes
TitleExpendituresFTEs
COUNTY GENERAL FUND
FY25 ORIGINAL APPROPRIATION1714113756.35
Other Adjustments (with no service impacts)
Increase Cost: Overtime Adjustment [Administration]4637860.00
Increase Cost: Seasonal Temps [Administration]3001190.00
Increase Cost: Rebuild Election Worker Management System [Information Technology ]3000000.00
Increase Cost: Restore One-Time Lapse Increase [Administration]2073330.00
Increase Cost: Restore Election Judge Stipend [Administration]2000000.00
Increase Cost: FY26 Compensation Adjustment1921370.00
Increase Cost: Printing [Administration]910000.00
Increase Cost: Annualization of FY25 Compensation Increases886240.00
Increase Cost: Legal/Attorney Services [Administration]475000.00
Increase Cost: Motor Pool Adjustment330550.00
Increase Cost: Restore Election Board Members' Stipend [Administration]308960.00
Increase Cost: Electronic Pollbooks Transportation [Information Technology ]300000.00
Increase Cost: Outside Postage (Sample Ballot) [Administration]250000.00
Increase Cost: Two Office Services Coordinator Positions moved from PT to FT [Administration]218670.33
Increase Cost: Retirement Adjustment88930.00
Increase Cost: Background Checks for Temporary Part-Time Employees [Administration]20000.00
Increase Cost: Three Percent Inflationary Adjustment to Non-Profit Service Provider Contracts [Administration]3400.00
Decrease Cost: Printing and Mail Adjustment-120820.00
Decrease Cost: Annualization of FY25 Personnel Costs-1428270.00
Decrease Cost: Lapse Adjustment [Administration]-1586940.00
Decrease Cost: State Board of Elections Expenses [Administration]-7085980.00
Decrease Cost: Elimination of One-Time Items Approved in FY25-39266560.00
FY26 RECOMMENDED1423483056.68
Program Summary
Program NameFY25 APPR
Expenditures
FY25 APPR
FTEs
FY26 REC
Expenditures
FY26 REC
FTEs
Administration77407103.0058190724.00
Election Operations550432222.53427218220.53
Information Technology 150519712.45156351513.45
Voter Services239090818.37258006118.70
Total1714113756.351423483056.68
Funding Parameter Items ($000s)
TitleFY26FY27FY28FY29FY30FY31
COUNTY GENERAL FUND
EXPENDITURES
FY26 Recommended14235.00000014235.00000014235.00000014235.00000014235.00000014235.000000
No inflation or compensation change is included in outyear projections.
Labor Contracts0.00000036.00000036.00000036.00000036.00000036.000000
These figures represent the estimated annualized cost of general wage adjustments, service increments, and other negotiated items.
Subtotal Expenditures14235.00000014271.00000014271.00000014271.00000014271.00000014271.000000