The General Election is today, but many have already voted
Julie Williams, left, a voting locations manager, and Mandy Amos, Washington County Board of Elections director, load ballot bags to be transported to polling places Monday in preparation for today's General Election. (Photo by Sophie Wheeler)
Ballot bags being prepared for pickup by poll workers are seen at the Washington County Board of Elections office on Monday afternoon. (Photo by Sophie Wheeler)
Julie Williams, left, a voting locations manager, and Mandy Amos, Washington County Board of Elections director, load ballot bags to be transported to polling places Monday in preparation for today's General Election. (Photo by Sophie Wheeler)
Ballot bags being prepared for pickup by poll workers are seen at the Washington County Board of Elections office on Monday afternoon. (Photo by Sophie Wheeler)
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PARKERSBURG - Today is Election Day, but more than 20,000 residents of Wood and Washington counties have already cast their ballots, according to local election officials.
In Wood County, 9,828 residents voted early between Oct. 21-31, County Clerk Joe Gonzales said. That's 17% of registered voters.
"It was more than we thought it would be," Gonzales said. "We want people to get out and vote, for sure."
There were also 452 absentee ballots issued, though not all of them had been returned as of Monday, he said. Absentee ballots have to be postmarked by Election Day and must be received by the county before the start of the canvassing process on Monday, Nov. 9.
In Washington County, 8,887 people voted early, said Mandy Amos, director of the county Board of Elections. With absentee ballots cast, the total was 12,062 during the early voting period, she said.
In 2022, 5,693 early voting ballots were cast with 10,352 as the total with absentees, Amos said.
She attributes the increase to the race for governor and that there are many new candidates running for office.
"I think that brings more people out," Amos said.
The board was busy Monday preparing for Election Day. Supplies and election materials were being distributed for the polls.
The ballot includes federal, state and local offices. A U.S. Senate seat and the House of Representatives District 2 seat are on the line, along with governor, attorney general, secretary of state, treasurer and two state Supreme Court seats. There is also a proposed state constitutional amendment that would require people to show a photo ID in order to vote.
The 94th District seat in the Ohio House of Representatives is on the ballot, plus two Washington County Commission seats. Renewals of levies supporting the 911 system and mental health and substance abuse treatment, recovery and prevention are on the ballot, along with a library levy that was renewed last fall but voted down when it had to be placed back on the ballot in the spring due to a technical error. Incumbent candidates for Washington County auditor, prosecutor, Common Pleas Court and Juvenile Court judge are unopposed.
The only local race on the Wood County ballot was decided when Sheriff Rick Woodyard won the Republican primary for a county commission seat in May.
Multiple legislative seats will be decided, including both Senate District 3 seats - one for an unexpired term - covering Wood, Wirt, Pleasants and Ritchie counties and all 100 House of Delegates seats.
In addition, one of West Virginia's two U.S. Senate seats is on the ballot, along with both House of Representatives seats.
A statewide ballot initiative is asking whether to amend the state's constitution to provide that only U.S. citizens can vote in West Virginia elections.
Staff Reporter Jess Mancini contributed to this story.