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WHEELING -- Ohio County residents -- many of them poll workers -- spoke out Tuesday night about some concerns they have with election procedures in the county.
Their words came after the commission discussed earlier this month a possibility of establishing a second early voting location to be located outside the City-County Building.
Pollworker Julia Chaplin said talk of voting locations brought to mind an observation she made during Election Day last November.
Poll workers were told during training they would receive on Election Day a list of people who voted later during the early voting period, and they were to cross check those coming to vote on Election Day against that list.
The poll workers didn't receive such a list on Election Day, Chaplin said.
Rodd Archey, county finance director, said such lists were sent out on Election Day, and are necessary as election workers don't get the opportunity to enter into the electronic poll books the names of those casting ballots on the last days of early voting.
He said that is why election officials throughout the state have asked the legislature to move back the end of early voting by two days -- not to restrict early voting, but to have the time to record those who have already voted.
"That is good information," Commission President Randy Wharton said. "We certainly don't want people voting twice."
Pollworker Zane Myer said he noticed on Election Day ballot identification numbers on the ballots being printed out "were off," and other poll workers didn't seem concerned.
"It seems the longer somebody has worked there, the more lax they seem to become," he said.
West Virginia election laws require that one Democrat and one Republican together return election-related material after the polls close.
Poll workers present said they were aware of instances where those transporting the items were of the same party, or went in separate cars.
Commissioners said they would investigate the issues, and the poll workers were asked if they had reported the incidents to county officials at the time.
At least one said she filed a report with the Secretary of State's Office, believing any questions would fall upon the county.
Commissioner Zach Abraham suggested poll workers be given a feedback form after the election, where they can record their experiences and note any misgivings.
The commissioners are next set to meet at 6 p.m. on Sept. 7 at the City-County Building, 1500 Chapline St., Wheeling.