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In-person early voting has been one of the most helpful innovations offered to West Virginians during recent years. If you don't trust mail-in absentee ballots or simply enjoy going in person to a polling place, it is excellent insurance against not being able to get to your precinct on Election Day.
Here in the Northern Panhandle, early voting stations have been available at the courthouse in each county.
Voters in Kanawha County can choose from eight different early voting stations. Those in Wood County have five options. A total of 17 of our state's 55 counties offer more than one early voting station, under a pilot program this year.
Should the choice become available to all 55 counties, we encourage Northern Panhandle election officials to sign up, too.
Here in Ohio County, an early balloting station at The Highlands would attract more voters.
In larger, more rural counties, multiple early voting stations would be even more useful. Residents of the Cameron area would not have to make the long trip to Moundsville. Those in Hundred could avoid the even longer jaunt to New Martinsville.
By making it easier for many people to cast ballots, multiple early voting locations encourage high turnout for elections. Given West Virginians' dismal record in that, the technique certainly has appeal. It ought to be utilized in the Northern Panhandle at the next election, if possible.