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West Virginia Voters Cast Early Ballots

Attorney Martin Sheehan, of Wheeling, was among the first voters to cast ballots Wednesday in Ohio County for the May 8 primary election. Photo by Joselyn King

WHEELING — Contested primaries for U.S. Senate, a school bond issue in Ohio County and a contested Democrat race for Marshall County commission brought early voters to the polls Wednesday in the Northern Panhandle.

Early voting season in West Virginia for the May 8 primary kicked off throughout the Mountain State. It continues through May 5.

The most voters turned out in Marshall County, where there is a contested non-partisan race for school board and a contested Democrat primary for county commission. More than 140 voters had cast ballots in Marshall County by late afternoon, according to election officials.

Ohio County saw 104 ballots cast; Wetzel County, 92; Brooke County, 71; Tyler County, 48; and Hancock County, 40.

First in line to vote at the City-County Building in Wheeling was construction worker Anthony R. Napolillo. He said he likes to vote on the first day and “get it over with.”

“There’s a few of them (candidates) I want to see go, and some I want to see stay in,” he said.

Former Ohio County Republican Party Chairman Marty Sheehan is another who typically votes on the first day.

“It’s an election, and there are always important issues,” he said.

For Sheehan, the GOP race for the nomination to U.S. Senate was important, as was the non-partisan race for Ohio County Board of Education. The school district also has on the ballot a $42.2 million bond issue to improve its school buildings.

“You have to vote for that,” said Sheehan. “Ohio County has consistently supported school levies and improved the education of our children. Our property values have raised as a result.”

Paul Lee, of Wheeling, also said the Senate and board of education races brought him out to vote.

“I was out getting my car looked at, and thought it was a good time to come vote,” he said.

Frances Wade, of Wheeling, was driven to come vote by her support of one candidate in the U.S. senate race, and her anger regarding another.

“I know what I want to do,” she said. “My question is, how can (GOP U.S. Senate candidate) Don Blankenship be on the ballot? I thought you couldn’t serve if you went to jail.”

While those convicted of felonies are prohibited from holding elected office, Blankenship — a former CEO of Massey Coal — served time in a federal prison following a misdemeanor conviction for circumstances surrounding the deaths of 29 coal miners at the Upper Big Branch Mine in 2010.

“What he did to those miners…,” said Wade. “(Democrat U.S. Sen.) Joe Manchin has my vote.”

Early voting polls are open weekdays at each local county courthouse during the following times:

∫ Ohio and Brooke counties — 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

∫ Hancock County — 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

∫ Marshall County — 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday. The office will stay open until 5:30 p.m. on Fridays.

∫ Tyler County — 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

∫ Wetzel County — 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and Friday. The office closes at 4 p.m. on Thursdays.

All offices will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for voting on Saturdays and will be closed on Sundays.

Voters are required to bring identification with them when they come to the polls. Accepted forms of identification include drivers licenses, voter registration cards, Medicare or Social Security cards, birth certificates or valid West Virginia hunting and fishing licenses. Utility bills issued within the past six months also are an accepted form of identification.

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