Meeting Type: BCC Regular Meeting
Meeting Date: 1/20/2026
Item Status: New
From: Roger H. Rendleman, County Administrator
Submitted by: Anu Gary, Administrative Services Manager
______________________________________________________________________
ITEM TITLE
Title
Voting Administration - Various Changes to Baldwin County Voting Precincts
End
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Adopt Resolution #2026-025 which amends Resolution #2024-020, providing for certain changes affecting voting in Baldwin County, Alabama, in conformance with applicable Alabama law, specifically to accomplish the following (see attached maps depicting changes):
1) Division of Existing Voting Precincts to Create an Additional, New Voting Precinct and Designation of Voting Location for the Newly Created Voting Precinct
a) Authorize the division of Voting Precinct No. 39 (Gulf Shores), creating a new Voting Precinct No. 60 (Gulf Shores, East of Hwy 59), and designating Our Lady of the Gulf Catholic Church, located at 308 East 22nd Avenue, Gulf Shores, Alabama, as the polling place for the new Voting Precinct No. 60.
b) Authorize the division of Voting Precinct 3 (Foley, West of Hwy 59), Voting Precinct 38 (Foley, East of Hwy 59), and Voting Precinct 48 (Gulf Shores, North of ICW), creating a new Voting Precinct No. 61 (Foley, South), and designating Pathway Church, located at 21170 Brinks Willis Road, Foley, Alabama, as the polling place for the new Voting Precinct No. 61.
c) Authorize the division of Voting Precinct No. 31 (Summerdale), creating a new Voting Precinct No. 62 (Summerdale North), and designating Baldwin EMC Training Center, located at 19600 State Highway 59, Summerdale, Alabama, as the polling place for the new Voting Precinct No. 62.
d) Authorize the division of Voting Precinct No. 10 (Point Clear), creating a new Voting Precinct No. 63 (Point Clear, West) and designating St. Francis at the Point Anglican Church, located at 17280 Scenic Highway 98, Fairhope, Alabama, as the polling place for the new Voting Precinct No. 63.
2) Realignment of Voting Precinct Boundaries
a) Authorize the realignment of boundaries of the following Voting Precincts.
Precinct No. 3, Precinct No. 10, Precinct No. 31, Precinct No. 36, Precinct No. 38, Precinct No. 39, Precinct No. 43, Precinct No. 47, Precinct No. 48, Precinct No. 50, and Precinct No. 57.
3) Relocation of Voting Places
a) Relocate the Voting Place for Voting Precinct No. 36 (Magnolia Springs) from Redemption Apostolic Church, to the new Magnolia Springs Town Hall, located at 12233 Magnolia Springs Highway, Magnolia Springs, Alabama.
4) Acknowledge a Name Change for a Voting Place
a) Acknowledge the name change of the Voting Place in Voting Precinct No. 23 (Belforest), from Belforest Christian Church, to Thrive Church.
5) Notification of Commission Action
a) Authorize the Chairman to execute correspondence to county election officials and state agencies (Probate Judge, Sheriff, Absentee Election Manager, Board of Registrars, Legislative Reapportionment Office) and all affected polling places informing them of the changes affecting voting in Baldwin County, Alabama, and requesting for the Board of Registrars to issue new voter cards to voters affected by the changes.
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BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Background: In an effort to better accommodate voters and manage election day volume, staff recommends the Commission approve the creation of four (4) new voting precincts and the adjustment of various voting precinct boundaries ahead of the 2026 state-wide elections (see attached maps). The proposed changes will increase the amount of voting precincts in Baldwin County from 59 to 63, with a goal of improving efficiency and reducing wait times at polling locations on election days.
New Precinct 60 - Gulf Shores, Our Lady of the Gulf Catholic Church
Registered Voters: 1,063
• Creation of Precinct 60 will alleviate crowding in the Gulf Shores Civic Center, (currently has 5,012 voters*).
New Precinct 61 - Foley, Pathway Church
Registered Voters: 4,265
• Creation of Precinct 61 will alleviate crowding in the St. Margaret Parish Church (currently has 7,158 voters*), Foley Civic Center (currently has 6,897 voters*), and Gulf Shores Cultural Center (currently has 9,210 voters*).
New Precinct 62 - Summerdale, Baldwin EMC Training Center
Registered voters: 1,258
• Creation of Precinct 62 will alleviate crowding in the Summerdale Community Center (currently has 3,808 voters*).
New Precinct 63 - Point Clear, St. Francis at the Point Anglican Church
Registered voters: 2,052
• Creation of Precinct 63 will alleviate crowding at Family Ministries Center (currently has 5,148 voters*).
*Number of registered voters on January 12, 2026.
Relocation of Voting Place in Precinct 36 - Magnolia Springs
Staff proposes relocating the voting location in Precinct 36 (Magnolia Springs) from Redemption Apostolic Church back to the former Wesleyan Church property, which has been acquired by the Town of Magnolia Springs and is now utilized as the new Magnolia Springs Town Hall.
Acknowledgement of a Name Change for Voting Place in Precinct 23 - Belforest
Since the last election cycle, Belforest Christian Church has changed to Thrive Church in Voting Precinct No. 23 (Belforest). There are no other changes to this voting location.
HOW VOTING LOCATIONS ARE SELECTED:
In reviewing potential new polling places, factors considered are the location and size of the polling place, parking on site, access, roads and traffic in the area, and the number of registered voters in the precinct. Staff also reviews any reported issues or voter comments from recent elections. The proposed new voting locations have been inspected and determined to be suitable for voting purposes. Each location is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as required by the U.S. Department of Justice.
GENERAL INFORMATION:
Baldwin County Voting Precincts and Voting Places are used for federal, state, county, and district elections in accordance with Alabama law, excepting municipal elections, and are designated by the Baldwin County Commission pursuant to applicable Alabama law as found at Section 17-6-1 through Section 17-6-9 of the Code of Alabama 1975.
Pursuant to §17-6-6 (a) Code of Alabama 1975, as amended, the County Commission of Baldwin County, Alabama, retains the sole authority to change the configuration, boundaries, or designation of the Voting Precincts in Baldwin County, Alabama, and, furthermore, any change so determined shall be adopted by resolution.
Pursuant to §17-6-4 Code of Alabama 1975, as amended, the County Commission of Baldwin County, Alabama, is authorized to designate and select a Voting Place for each Voting Precinct. Section 17-6-4 (d) of the Code of Alabama 1975 prohibits voting places for voting precincts to be changed within three (3) months of an election.
Previous Commission action/date: N/A
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Total cost of recommendation: N/A
Budget line item(s) to be used: N/A
If this is not a budgeted expenditure, does the recommendation create a need for funding? N/A
LEGAL IMPACT
Is legal review necessary for this staff recommendation and related documents?
N/A
Reviewed/approved by: N/A
Additional comments: N/A
ADVERTISING REQUIREMENTS
Is advertising required for this recommendation? Public notice required, BOR will send out voter notification cards to affected voters, County staff will provide a press release and information on social media outlets.
If the proof of publication affidavit is not attached, list the reason: N/A
FOLLOW UP IMPLEMENTATION
For time-sensitive follow up, select deadline date for follow up: TIME SENSITIVE
Individual(s) responsible for follow up: Administration - Correspondence and Public Notices
Action required (list contact persons/addresses if documents are to be mailed or emailed):
1) (Hand Delivery and Email) Letter with copy of resolution with exhibits:
Judge of Probate Harry D’Olive, Baldwin County Probate Office
cc: Tammy Chance, Elections Coordinator tchance@baldwincountyal.gov
2) (Hand Delivery and Email) Letter with copy of resolution with exhibits:
William Godbey, Chairman, Baldwin County Board of Registrars
c/o Max Huffman, Office Manager
cc: Max Huffman max.huffman@baldwincountyal.gov
3) (Email) Letter with copy of resolution with exhibits:
Brenda Ganey, Circuit Clerk, Absentee Election Manager
brenda.ganey@alacourt.gov
4) (Email) Letter with copy of resolution with exhibits:
Baldwin County Sheriff Anthony Lowery
alowery@baldwincountyal.gov
5) (Certified Mail and Email) Letter with original certification and copy of resolution with exhibits:
Legislative Reapportionment Office
ATTN: Donna Overton Loftin, Supervisor
Alabama State House
11 South Union Street, Suite 317
Montgomery, Alabama 36130
donna.overton@alsenate.gov
cc: Clay Helms, Chief of Staff, Alabama Secretary of State (clay.helms@sos.alabama.gov)
Jeff Elrod, Director of Elections, Alabama Secretary of State (jeff.elrod@sos.alabama.gov)
6) (Mail and Email) Letter incl. corresponding Voting Precinct Map to newly designated polling places:
Voting Precinct 23
Name Change of Voting Place to: Thrive Church
Voting Precinct 36
Relocation of Voting Place to: Magnolia Springs Town Hall
Thank you letter to: Magnolia Springs Redemption Church
Voting Precinct 60
New voting location: Our Lady of the Gulf Catholic Church
Voting Precinct 61
New voting location: Pathway Church
Voting Precinct 62
New voting location: Baldwin EMC Training Center
Voting Precinct 63
New voting location: St. Francis at the Point Anglican Church
ADMINISTRATION COORDINATION AFTER BCC APPROVAL:
●Post Public Notice to county website
●Post Public Notice at county facilities (do not remove until after May 19, 2026, Primary Election)
●Update Voting Locations Physical Address List on county website
●Update Voting webpage - Notice for Voting Changes
●Upload Revised Voting Precincts Map (KCS) on Probate website (CIS)
●Update Voting Locations Contact List
●Add any specific requirements/notes for polling places on check list
Additional instructions/notes: N/A