MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Sunny skies across West Virginia on Saturday boosted earlier voting numbers on the final day of the 10-day period despite the coronavirus pandemic.
According to the West Virginia Secretary of State’s Office, 388,745 votes have been cast so far; 252,776 people voted early, while 135,969 voters have submitted absentee ballots. There are around 1.2 million registered voters in the state.
West Virginia Clerk’s Association President Linda Huggins said problems with security, poll workers and the voting process have been minimal statewide.
Huggins, who also serves as Preston County clerk, argued the most significant story in how many people have voted earlier; more than 3,600 Preston County residents have voted at the single early voting location as of Friday.
“It’s been something we haven’t seen in Preston County,” Huggins said. “You want to compare 100 voters to 500 voters a day.”
The Kanawha County Commission on Sunday said more than 45,000 votes have been cast through early voting and voting by mail.
“The Kanawha County Commission wishes to thank County Clerk Vera McCormick, her dedicated staff, and our amazing poll workers for a job well done,” Commission President Kent Carper said in a press release. “The poll workers stayed late, well after the polls closed, to ensure that every voter in line when the polls closed was able to cast a ballot.”
In Monongalia County, more than 17,000 people have used one of the four early voting locations, according to Clerk Carye Blaney.
The largest demographic participating in early voting have been those 55-years and older, but younger voters are making their voices heard.
“Out of the 17,800 that we’ve voted so far, almost 1,400 have been from the 18-to-24 demographic,” Blaney said. “That’s very encouraging.”
Huggins said this election is bringing new people to the polls.
“We’ve actually heard voters say they have never voted in 40 years and this is the first time I’ve ever voted,” she said. “There are a lot of people getting out and voting that never have.”
Even though early numbers have set records in some counties, Blaney said she believes Election Day will likely be a more normal pace.
“I don’t think we’re going to have an overwhelming turnout on Election Day, but I do think it will be steady, presidential races usually are,” she said.
Both clerks asked voters to not wear or display campaign-related buttons, hats or shirts. By law, electioneering is not allowed at any voting location.
“Right now, some people don’t want to take off their t-shirt, so we have that blue painters tape and we just put blue painters tape over the top of their t-shirt,” Huggins said.
Election Day is Tuesday; polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.