Joselyn King Trending
WHEELING - There are four proposed constitutional amendments on West Virginia's general election ballot, and county officials suggest voters read them and educate themselves before coming to early vote at the polls this week.
Early voting season starts Wednesday across West Virginia, and continues each weekday and Saturday each day through Nov. 5. Polls are closed on Sundays.
The amendments are perhaps what is generating the most interest among the electorate, according to Ohio County coordinator of elections Toni Chieffalo.
"Understanding the amendments is going to be an issue on Election Day," she said. "Voters need to research them before they come to vote.
"I can imagine when they see the ballot the voters are going to ask the poll workers, 'What is this? Can you tell me about this?'"
The poll workers have to remain neutral, and won't be able to discuss the amendments, Chieffalo continued.
"They cannot tell you anything," she said.
The four proposed amendments voters will see are as follows:
- Amendment 1 would clarify the courts have no authority or jurisdiction to intercede, intervene or interfere with impeachment proceedings of the House of Delegates or the Senate. It also would specify that a judgment rendered by the Senate following an impeachment trial is not reviewable by any court in West Virginia.
- Amendment 2, the "Property Tax Modernization Amendment" would provide the Legislature authority to exempt machinery and equipment directly used in business activity, and also would eliminate the personal property tax on motor vehicles.
- Amendment 3 would authorize the incorporation of churches or religious denominations in West Virginia. Churches and their membership could not be legally sued under the amendment.
- Amendment 4, the "Education Accountability Amendment," would clarify that the rules and policies passed by the West Virginia Board of Education would be "subject to legislative review, approval, amendment, or rejection." The State Board of Education is currently the only state agency that is not required to submit its policies to the West Virginia Legislature for final approval.
The full text of the ballot amendments is available at the West Virginia Secretary of State's website: sos.wv.gov/elections/Pages/GoVoteWV.aspx.
Voting in Ohio County will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. County races include a matchup for county commissioner between Democratic incumbent Randy Wharton and Republican Dave Palmer, and a contest for circuit clerk between Democratic incumbent Brenda Miller and Republican Donna E. Vance.
Marshall County polls will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays. The renewal of an excess levy to benefit Marshall County Schools is on the ballot there.
Contested elections in Marshall include races for commissioner between Democratic incumbent Commissioner John "Big John" Gruzinskas and Republican Scott Wolfe; for county clerk, between Democratic incumbent Melanie Madden and Connie Howard; and circuit clerk between Republican incumbent Joe Rucki and Democrat Donna (Kobasko) Crow.
Also in Marshall County, there will be two contested races for Moundsville City Council. Candidates in Ward 4 are Carl Boso and V. Ginger Dewitt. Those seeking an at-large seat are Timothy P. McCormick, Sara Wood-Shaw and Rick Young.
The Hancock County Clerk's Office will be open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays for early voting, as well as from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays. There are no contested races on the ballot, but voters will see requests to renew levies supporting Hancock County Schools and Hancock County Public Libraries. In Brooke County, early voting will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. There is a contested race for commissioner between Democratic incumbent Tim Ennis and Republican Thomas R. "Tommy" Diserio.
Three separate levies also are on the ballot in Brooke County. These benefit the County Animal Shelter and Senior Center; local fire department, and ambulance and emergency services.
Early voting in Tyler County will take place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays. Tyler County Schools has an excess levy on the ballot.
Voting hours in Wetzel County are 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, and on Fridays. On Thursdays, polls are open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Saturdays, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wetzel County Schools has on the county ballot an excess levy renewal.