Officials said splits aim to reduce long lines, improve efficiency at polling places
Montgomery Township officials provided an update Monday night on approved changes to several of the township’s busiest voting districts, confirming the new precinct structure will take effect for the November 2026 general election.
Supervisors Vice Chairwoman Beth Staab, who also chairs the township Democratic Committee, said the changes stem from long-standing concerns about uneven voter distribution and lengthy wait times at certain polling locations.
“Some of us stand in line longer than others, which has always been a frustration for me,” Staab said, noting that some voters even refer to “the short line or the long line” at sites like Bridle Path Elementary.
The issue, she said, is driven by population growth that has pushed Precincts 3, 7 and 8 well beyond recommended voter limits. While precincts historically held around 1,500 voters — and more recently about 2,500 with the rise of mail-in voting — those three districts had grown to nearly or above 5,000 voters each.
“This is well beyond what this was,” Staab said, calling the realignment “long overdue.”
Following a process that included coordination with Montgomery County Voter Services, data analysis and bipartisan petition support, the township secured court approval to split the precincts.
The changes will create six smaller districts: 3-1 and 3-2 at Bridle Path Elementary, 7-1 and 7-2 at Montgomery Elementary, and Districts 8 and 9 at the Montgomery Township Community and Recreation Center.
Staab said the goal is “to make all voters have access to this without having to wait for hours to vote,” emphasizing the effort was focused purely on efficiency and accessibility, not politics.
“This was not a political effort… it was an effort of efficiency on voting day,” she said.
Supervisors said the changes will not impact the upcoming primary election but will be implemented in time for the general election in November. In the coming months, township officials and county voter services plan to notify residents through newsletters, e-news updates and Election Day signage to ensure voters know which line to enter at their usual polling locations.
Officials acknowledged the transition may require some adjustment but said the added lines, check-in systems and staffing should significantly reduce wait times and create a more balanced voting experience across the township.
Supervisors Chairwoman Tanya Bamford, who also serves as vice chair of the township Democratic Committee alongside Staab, thanked Staab and Supervisor Audrey Ware-Jones for working on the redistricting plan last year.
"You really championed this and it was not easy. The information was difficult to track down in terms of the actual procedure involved in affecting this change," Bamford said. "I know that was sort of a heavy lift. I just want to applaud you for this effort to help make this process easier ultimately for the residents of Montgomery Township."
