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The York County Board of Elections has filed a lawsuit against the Dover Area School Board, accusing the district of repeatedly violating state law by refusing to open its school buildings as polling places for the upcoming May 19 primary election.
According to ABC27, the county made "repeated formal requests" to use Dover Area High School and Dover Area Middle School as polling places, citing their size, accessibility, location, and capacity as making them "optimal" sites. The school board rejected the latest request in a 5-4 vote on Monday (February 17).
Under Pennsylvania state law, school districts are required to provide access to their facilities for use as polling places when formally requested. The county offered a lease agreement of $140 per year — described as the maximum it could offer — but several board members pushed back, raising concerns about voter safety, potential damage to gym floors, and the disruption of state-mandated testing.
Board members have pointed out that the May primary conflicts with the Keystone and Advanced Placement exam windows. As reported by the York Dispatch, Superintendent Catherine Houck told the board the spring primary date is especially problematic because it falls within the narrow state-mandated window for Keystone testing. She said the district might have to cancel school on election day or extend the school year into June to accommodate the testing requirements.
Some board members also suggested alternative polling locations — such as fire departments and churches — while others questioned whether the $140 annual lease was adequate compensation. Board member David Wolverton had previously summed up his position bluntly, saying, "The bottom line is we're here for public education. We're not here to provide a public voting place. If they want it, let them use state law and take it."
This dispute is not new. The York Dispatch previously reported that the county first formally requested use of a Dover Area building in February 2024, ahead of the November general election. The board debated the issue for months before ultimately voting it down in September 2024, and voted again in October 2024 not to allow the district's facilities to be used as a polling place for the 2025-2026 school year.
York County Board of Elections President Julie Wheeler expressed frustration with the district's continued refusals. "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," Wheeler said. "Other school districts across the county, and across the commonwealth, are able to accommodate the safe and efficient use of their schools for polling locations. There is no reason Dover Area School District can't make the same reasonable accommodations for voters in that community."
The lawsuit is ongoing. ABC27 reported it has reached out to the school district and board for comment, but no response had been received as of Monday (March 2). The outcome of the case could have implications for how school districts across Pennsylvania handle similar requests in the future.