Trending
WHEELING -- Primary election voting again will take place at the City-County Building in downtown Wheeling for the May 10 primary election, despite community calls to move voting to a new location.
Voters must go through security when they vote at the City-County Building, and that is seen as a deterrent for many, explained Commissioner Zach Abraham. All early voting currently takes place at the City-County Building, and it is also the downtown polling location on the actual Election Day for those living downtown.
County officials looked into moving voting precincts out of the City-County Building across the street to West Virginia Northern Community College's B&O Building. But strict COVID policies would not have made it any easier for the public to come in to vote, said County Administrator Randy Russell.
Those entering had to show their vaccination cards at that time, he explained.
The county also considered moving voting to the Ohio County Library.
"We missed the library opportunity while we were trying to negotiate with Northern," Russell said. "All of their (WVNCC) policies pertaining to COVID have been very fluid, and at the time we needed to make that commitment they were requiring vacinations, and we could not guarantee all voters would have vaccinations."
In the end, it was thought best to keep the early voting location at the same location for now, he continued.
"There have been some comments made to me that it limits voter turnout here because they have to go through a security system, and nobody else in the county has to do that," Abraham said. "I would strongly suggest we reconsider that."
He urged if it's too late to do that for the primary election, the moving of voting precincts from the City-County Building should take place for the general election.
Commissioner Don Nickerson asked for more detail as to why voters might be reluctant to go through security at the City-County Building to vote.
"I think they just don't like to come into an area where they have to get wanded," Abraham said. "There's no other place you have to do that, and I don't disagree with them."
Russell suggested parking outside the City-County Building also was an issue for many.
Abraham noted the library was an acceptable alternative voting location, as it was only three to four blocks from the current location.
"I was hoping we could work something out with the school," said County Finance Director Rodd Archey. "Their access is much easier. It is on the ground floor (of the B&O Building).
"The library location is in the basement. There's an old, small elevator there and two sets of stairs."
Russell agreed the WVNCC location is the best location for voting precincts.
"It just didn't seem like it was going to work this year (for the primary election)," he said.