Marshall County Early Voting Numbers Growing
Record numbers have voted early
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MOUNDSVILLE -- If trends in early voting are any indication, this year's general election is shaping up to be one of the largest in Marshall County's history, with more than 2,000 people already casting ballots.
That situation isn't unique to Marshall County, however, as West Virginia Secretary of State Natalie Tennant says the state is on track to see record early-voter turnout this election year.
As of Monday morning, 84,517 early ballots had been cast statewide.
Around the Northern Panhandle, almost 10,000 residents had cast ballots early as of 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, according to elections officials from Hancock to Tyler counties.
In Ohio County, officials reported 3,148 early ballots cast; in Marshall County, 2,103; Hancock County, 1,570; Wetzel County, 1,304; Brooke County, 1,114; and Tyler County, 751.
"People like early voting, and it has increased as the years have gone by. But this is by far the busiest we've ever been to this point," said Marshall County Clerk Jan Pest.
Pest said concerns over the reliability of voting machines are groundless, considering the numerous safeguards in place.
During the voting process, ballots are displayed both with a paper trail, and for review at the end.
"I totally trust the machines. They are never connected to the internet. They're just machines until you put the Personal Electronic Ballot in it, and our PEBs are all tested beforehand with a model test that we create to prove they're voting correctly, and then those are locked up and under three keys until they go out on Election Day," Pest said.
Pest said many people often confuse voter error with machine error. She noted the voting machines require pressure and a solid touch.
"We've had issues with people pecking and jabbing at it, but when we have them do it the right way, that all goes away," she said. "We had somebody that had some issues on Saturday, and we had up to 1,000 people voting up to that point, and that was the first time we'd had someone accuse the machine of anything."
Pest said only one of the more than 2,000 people who had cast early votes in Marshall County had requested to use a paper ballot instead of the voting machines.
"There are people thinking it's a law, and it's not, that we have to provide them a paper ballot," Pest said.
Weekday early voting hours throughout the Northern Panhandle are as follows: Hancock County, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Brooke County, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Ohio County, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Marshall County, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. today and 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Friday; Wetzel County, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. today and 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday; and Tyler County, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
On Saturday, courthouses throughout the state will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to accommodate early voters.
If people registered to vote online, they will have to show an ID when they go to vote. Having an ID is not yet required for all voters, but in 2018, all West Virginia voters will be required to show identification.
Staff Writer Joselyn King contributed to this story.