CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia has officially set a record for early voting, according to the Secretary of State’s office.
More than 220,000 West Virginians marked their ballots during the 10-day early voting period ending Saturday, according to a news release put out today.
During the 2012 presidential general election, there were 150,666 early voters. In 2008, there were 153,096.
The early voting periods lasted 20 days in those years.
“As we near the end of this election cycle, it is clear that West Virginians are excited about voting,” Secretary of State Natalie Tennant said. “Early voting is convenient and gives voters with busy schedules more opportunities to cast a ballot.”
“I am pleased to see such record-breaking turnout, and hope West Virginians continue that momentum by getting out and setting even more voter turnout records on Election Day.”
Of those who voted early, 98,547 — or almost 45 percent — were Democrats, according to the Secretary of State. That’s the same percentage as the overall number of those registered as Democrats in West Virginia.
Another 81,263 — or 36 percent — of the early voters were Republicans. About 31 percent of West Virginia’s registered voters are Republicans.
And another 32,055 — or almost 15 percent — of early voters are nonpartisan. About 21 percent of West Virginia’s overall registered voters are unaffiliated.
The county with the highest number of early voters was Monongalia with 20,746. Wood County had 16,426. Kanawha had 14,273. Berkeley had 13,294.
On Election Day, polls open statewide at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m.
MetroNews Decision 2016 coverage begins at 7:06 Tuesday night on radio stations across the state and at wvmetronews.com. We’ll have reporters at Justice and Cole election night headquarters.