BUCKHANNON – Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, and the polls are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. across the Mountain State.
Here in Upshur County, Upshur County Clerk Carol Smith said Upshur County set a new early voting record with 4,051 early voters and 1,906 absentee ballots.
“We voted just a little over 900 more than what we did in 2016 as far as early voting,” Smith said. “I haven’t looked up the absentee numbers, but generally 50 to 75 is a big number for absentees.”
She said early voting went well, and she wasn’t surprised there was a larger turnout.
“In my head, I really anticipated probably 4,000 to 4,500, but it went relatively smooth,” Smith said. “It was just kind of steady; there were a couple of times there were lines and things of that nature, but mostly it was just steady.”
Smith said residents voting on Election Day are encouraged to wear masks, have their IDs ready and be patient.
“They’re going to have social distancing signs up, and, of course, every precinct will be a little bit different,” Smith said. “Some of them can fit more people in the room than other precincts, so that’ll vary by precinct because all the precincts will be open for Election Day.”
The COVID-19 pandemic has presented some issues, but Smith said all 21 precincts will be open.
“I’ve had a few hiccups today with people who have been quarantined, and I’m having to pull off my poll worker list, so I’m currently trying to rearrange 21 precincts, to some degree. However, other than that, overall, everything has gone pretty smoothly,” Smith said. “Everybody’s doing what they’re supposed to be doing, as far as the people in my office and the people who have programmed our equipment, so nothing on this end has been bad.”
She said if people are quarantined because of COVID-19, they are advised to call her office and the county clerk’s office will make arrangements for them to vote. The Upshur County Clerk’s Office may be reached by calling 304-472-1068.
“If you have been quarantined by the health department or you’re positive, please call and make arrangements to vote,” Smith said. “Here, at the courthouse, we’re going set up a sort of drive-thru, so just call and let us check to verify as much information as we can and, please don’t go to the polls.”
For more information about voting, please visit the West Virginia Secretary of State’s website at www.govotewv.com or the Office of the County Clerk on Upshur County’s website, www.upshurcounty.org.
