MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Around 389,000 West Virginians voted early — either at polling locations or by mail — as this year’s general election is on track to be record-setting.
According to the West Virginia Secretary of State’s Office, 389,248 people have already voted; 253,243 West Virginians voted early while 136,005 people submitted absentee ballots.
More than half of the absentee ballots came from Democratic voters — 76,296 votes — and Republicans dominated early voting with 111,982 voters heading to the polls.
John Kilwein, a political science professor at West Virginia University, said the early turnout numbers could be a boost for Democrats.
“Any Democrat, at a national level, is going to have a heavy lift in West Virginia, but I do think it’s probably going to cut into the president’s lopsided victory in 2016,” he said.
Kilwein added nationwide political polarization could benefit down-ballot candidates.
“If there’s a significant increase in the number of people getting out to vote because they want to vote against the president,” he said, “that’s going to help those house delegate members who are Democrats.”
Polls open Tuesday at 6:30 a.m. and will remain open until 7:30 p.m.