York County Board of Elections Sues Local School Board Over Voting Access

The board filed a lawsuit against Dover Area School Board to require the district to provide access to its buildings for voting on Election Day.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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The York County Board of Elections has filed a lawsuit against the Dover Area School Board, claiming the district has repeatedly denied requests to allow use of its buildings as polling places on Election Day. The board of elections says state law requires school districts to provide access for voting, and that Dover Area High School and Middle School are optimal polling locations due to their size, accessibility, location, and capacity.

Why it matters

This lawsuit highlights an ongoing debate over voting access and the role of local school districts in facilitating elections. The board of elections argues that denying access to school buildings unfairly restricts voting options for the community, while the school board has cited other concerns in rejecting the requests.

The details

The York County Board of Elections claims it has made multiple requests for the Dover Area School Board to allow use of district buildings as polling places, but the school board has continuously denied these requests, most recently in a 5-4 vote on February 17. The board of elections says state law requires school districts to provide access to buildings for voting if requested, and that the Dover Area High School and Middle School are well-suited for this purpose.

  • The board of elections filed the lawsuit on March 3, 2026.
  • The school board voted 5-4 against the request on February 17, 2026.

The players

York County Board of Elections

The government agency responsible for administering elections in York County, Pennsylvania.

Dover Area School Board

The governing body of the Dover Area School District in York County, Pennsylvania.

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What they’re saying

“We are disappointed that the Dover Area School Board has chosen not to partner with the county to ensure all voters in the district have safe, secure and easy access to their polling station on Election Day.”

— Julie Wheeler, President, York County Board of Elections (fox43.com)

What’s next

The judge will rule on whether the school district must allow use of its buildings as polling places for the upcoming May 19 Primary Election and future elections.

The takeaway

This lawsuit highlights the ongoing tensions between local election officials and school districts over voting access, with both sides citing different priorities and legal requirements. The outcome could set an important precedent for how schools handle requests to host polling places in their communities.