After a one-year absence, early voting will return to the town of Marlborough this year.

The Marlborough Town Board, last-week, approved a new contract with the Ulster County Board of Elections that will allow early voting for the 2026 general election to be held at the town’s community center.

A scheduling conflict last year, forced a relocation of early voting from the newly-renovated Town of Marlborough Community Center, causing a scramble for Ulster County Election officials to find a new place. They ultimately selected the Highland American Legion Hall, but the last-minute change drew criticism from Democratic officials and candidates, who said the loss of a Marlborough site could discourage participation and voter suppression.

The board met Feb. 9 and also received county updates from Ulster County Legislator Laura Donovan, who outlined progress on a five-year sales tax sharing agreement between the county and its towns and villages. The agreement, which is renegotiated every five years, is set to expire this month, coinciding with Donovan’s first month in office.

Donovan said the county has worked with the county executive’s office to improve the terms of the agreement.

“From a town perspective, the towns will be getting more guaranteed funding from the county, which is fantastic,” Donovan said.

She said she is serving on three county committees — Economic Development, Public Works Capital Projects, and Ways and Means — to stay connected to Marlboro’s priorities.

“What I want to focus on includes supporting our agritourism industry here in town and making sure that our farmers and our ag industry are supported by the county,” Donovan said. “As well as looking at how we can increase economic development and support small businesses.”

Under the newly approved Board of Elections contract, early voting for the general election will return to Marlboro’s community center for nine days. Early voting will not be offered there for the primary election because of heavy use of the facility during that period, Town Supervisor Scott Corcoran said.