Political Images Banned at Polls

By JOSELYN KING Political Writer


WHEELING — Starting Wednesday, those entering the City-County Building in downtown Wheeling must leave their political pins and political T-shirts outside.

Early voting starts Wednesday at county buildings across West Virginia, and concludes Saturday, May 10 — three days prior to the May 13 primary election.

During that time, partisan political images of any type are prohibited near the polls.

In Ohio County, security guards at the doors to the City-County Building have been told beginning Wednesday to stop those entering the facility who are wearing items showing support for candidates, said Toni Chieffalo, coordinator of elections in the county. That is because West Virginia law prohibits the practice of “electioneering” within the courthouse while early voting is taking place.

“You cannot wear anything partisan to the polls, and this includes buttons or T-shirts,” she said. That includes people who aren’t entering the building to vote, workers and residents doing business at the City-County Building.

The issue came up during a special election last year pertaining to table gambling in the county. Some voters showing up wearing T-shirts supporting the measure were asked to go into the bathrooms and turn their shirts inside out while they were in the building, Chieffalo said.

Those coming to vote early in Ohio County actually won’t have to venture far into the City-County Building to do so. For this election, early voting is being moved to the municipal courtroom on the first floor, and won’t take place in the commission chambers upstairs.

“We are hoping this will be more accommodating to voters,” Chieffalo said. She added that should have five to six people working the polls in the room, and that two touchscreen voting terminals will be set up for use.

Benches typically kept in the room will be moved into the hallway so that waiting voters will have a place to sit during busy periods.

Regular municipal court proceedings scheduled for the courtroom on Wednesday, April 23, and on Wednesday, May 7, will instead take place in City Council chambers on the second floor. A regular court session that would have taken place on April 30 has been canceled.

Early voting hours in each of the Northern Panhandle counties are as follows:

? Brooke County — 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

? Hancock County – 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

? Marshall County— 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Friday.

? Ohio County — 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

? Tyler County — 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

? Wetzel County — 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. The office is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursdays. It will be open on Saturday, April 26, from 9 a.m. until noon.

Early voting in all West Virginia counties also will take place on Saturday, May 3, and Saturday, May 10, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

West Virginia voters do not have to show identification to vote.

For the first time, Independent voters are permitted to vote either a Democratic or Republican ballot in this primary election, but they must request the ballot when they go to vote. Otherwise, the Independent voter will receive a non-partisan ballot.

Those wishing to register to vote or change their political affiliation must do so by the end of the business day on Tuesday.