County election officials have concluded that Long Bridge Park won’t work as an early-voting site for the 2028 presidential election, and they’re working to identify alternatives.
The county government’s fitness and aquatics center at the park was used as one of three early-voting locations in 2024 but “ended up serving fewer voters than expected,” election officials said in a draft strategic plan currently out for public review.
“Long Bridge turned out not to be an ideal location, due to citizens’ unfamiliarity with the facility and its out-of-the-way location,” election officials said. “Finding satellite locations that are easily accessible to voters is important.”
In 2024, the Long Bridge location operated alongside the existing early-voting sites at the Ellen M. Bozman Government Center, Madison Community Center and Walter Reed Community Center.
“During the 2024 presidential election, existing locations were able to meet demand, but lengthy voter lines sporadically developed on the first and last days of early voting at several locations,” the draft report notes.
Even Madison Community Center, long an early-voting site accessible for many North Arlington residents, is not without its challenges, election officials said:
“The Madison satellite location has experienced difficulties because the largest room at that facility is unavailable except on Election Day. Early voting is relegated to a room insufficient for the number of voters it handles.”
Election officials are looking not only at finding a replacement for the Long Bridge facility for 2028, but also expanding early-voting sites in subsequent elections to handle expected population growth and many voters’ desire to cast ballots in person but in advance of Election Day.
But adding more early-voting sites could add “significant stress” to the county’s elections office, as they are labor-intensive efforts and require acquisition of additional equipment.
Population growth also would likely require the creation of new voting precincts beyond the current 54. Election officials have asked county leaders to work with developers on agreements to set aside space for Election Day voting in their new projects.
Comments on the draft strategic plan are being accepted through Oct. 17.