North Beach town officials are evaluating whether to transfer administration of the upcoming municipal election to the state of Maryland and the Calvert County Board of Elections, following changes enabled by Maryland House Bill 322 enacted in 2025.
The discussion occurred during the North Beach Town Council’s work session on January 8, 2026, in North Beach, Maryland, a small coastal community in Calvert County, Southern Maryland. With the election for mayor and six council members scheduled less than 11 months away on November 3, 2026, coinciding with the statewide general election, town administrator Linda Vassallo presented options to the council.
Vassallo noted that the filing deadline for candidates is August 3, 2026. The election is nonpartisan with no primary, and balloting occurs on the same day as the national election in November. Historically, North Beach has administered its municipal elections independently: registered town voters cast ballots at town hall, while those also registered with the state voted at county polling locations on Election Day or during early voting.
Vassallo explained in a memo to the council that HB 322 authorizes municipalities to collaborate with the state to administer municipal elections. This includes allowing the State Administrator of Elections to enter into memoranda of understanding for support services and to lease voting systems or other equipment for use in municipal elections. The law, approved by the Governor as Chapter 124 on April 22, 2025, repeals prior authority for local boards to lease equipment to certain entities and aims to provide efficient support for smaller jurisdictions.
The town faces two options. Maintaining independent administration would cost $42,400 for the election. Partnering with the state and Calvert County Board of Elections would have no direct cost to the town.
Mayor Mike Benton indicated that transferring control would require drafting and adopting a charter amendment. If adopted, town residents would vote at the North Beach Volunteer Fire Department, located in adjacent Chesapeake Beach near the town line.
Councilman Kenneth Wilcox supported the state option as a good idea but expressed concern about the potential for non-residents voting in the municipal election. Councilman Gregg Dotson stated he did not view the cost as a primary concern and preferred keeping voting within town boundaries for residents.
The council will make a final decision later in January 2026, after staff prepares additional details. North Beach, with a population under 2,000, is part of Southern Maryland’s tri-county area where local governance focuses on community services, beach access, and flood mitigation amid rising sea levels and development pressures.
The potential change aligns with statewide efforts to streamline election processes for municipalities, reducing administrative burdens while maintaining integrity. In Calvert County, the Board of Elections handles larger-scale voting, and collaboration could integrate municipal ballots with state equipment at consolidated locations. This mirrors trends in Southern Maryland towns seeking cost efficiencies for nonpartisan local races.
HB 322’s provisions enable such partnerships without mandating them, giving towns like North Beach flexibility. The town’s current independent process involves separate polling at town hall, which supports local oversight but incurs expenses for staffing, equipment, and compliance.
Residents concerned about voting logistics or eligibility can contact town hall for updates. The decision will affect how approximately 1,500 registered voters in North Beach participate in selecting leadership for the next term.
