MERCER COUNTY, W.Va. — The county clerk in Mercer County was optimistic about overall turnout for Saturday’s excess school levy election in his county as the early voting period came to an end in Bluefield.
County Clerk Verlin Moye told MetroNews the number of people who cast ballots early for the levy election was nearly double the total for early voting ahead of the 2017 road bond special election.
“Sometimes it’s hard to gauge the public interest, but given the issue, it being a school excess levy issue, it reflects that there’s a considerable population of teachers and students who are interested in this topic,” said Moye.
The only issue on the ballot for the Nov. 2 Election Day was the proposed five-year extension of the levy that had been in place in Mercer County for decades.
“There’s one question. It’s a paper ballot. It is either for or against the levy,” Moye said.
He was hoping for a 20 percent turnout.
Two years ago, just nine percent of registered voters in Mercer County cast ballots in the road bond election.
“The elections decide on issues that affect each and every resident each and every day and we all should participate in the process and get out and vote,” said Moye.
The $13 million levy accounts for 10 percent of the total budget for the Mercer County school system.
Included is funding for school maintenance and operations, additional teachers and support personnel, salary supplements, extracurricular activities, coach salaries, textbooks and more.
The full levy list was posted HERE.
The current Mercer County levy, based on county property tax assessments, was scheduled to expire on June 30, 2020.
Early voting for the levy election ended Wednesday.
On Saturday, polls were scheduled to be open in Mercer County from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.