princeton — Courthouses and other locations in Mercer, Raleigh, Fayette and other counties across southern West Virginia were busy Wednesday as registered voters lined up to make their choices for the next president and other elected officials before Election Day.
Early voting in West Virginia officially started Wednesday and continues until Nov. 2.
Voters can go to the early polls at each county courthouse or annex in all 55 counties. Additionally, some counties offer community voting locations throughout the county. These early voting locations are open Monday through Friday during the same regular hours that each locality’s county courthouse is open, as well as from 9 a.m until 5 p.m. on both Saturdays, Oct. 26 and Nov. 2.
A line started forming outside the Mercer County Courthouse before the doors opened early Wednesday morning.
“Today, we have been extremely busy at all four of our early voting locations,” said County Clerk Verlin Moye. “At the courthouse, we opened up to a 20-voter line and by around 10 a.m we had processed 179 voters, some of whom waited as long as one hour. That’s voting at about 119 voters per hour. The line was shortened somewhat at around 1:30 with a wait of around 25 minutes or less, then it got longer again.”
Moye took a moment to remind voters about state laws about campaigning near polling places.
“A friendly reminder to our registered voters is that no candidate hats, shirts, buttons or any electioneering related items or activities are allowed by law within 100 feet of an early voting precinct,” Moye said. “We’ve had to politely ask a couple of voters to remove such items. We appreciate our voters’ political passions but we still have to follow the law.”
The early polling places in Mercer County include the Mercer County Courthouse, the Sims Wellness Center on Stadium Drive in Bluefield, Four Season Seasons Answering Service at 3311 Coal Heritage Road in Bluewell and the Covenant Baptist Church at 145 Wyndale Drive near Princeton.
“As of 3:30 (Wednesday), Bluewell received 156 ballots cast, the courthouse netted 352 ballots, Covenant Baptist Church voted 280 and The Herb Sims Fitness Center voted 302 ballots for a total of 1,090 ballots cast with one hour to go on the first day and many are still in line waiting to cast their ballot,” Moye said. “Sample ballots and other information can be viewed at www.mercervotes.com.”
Later, the total for Mercer County’s first day of voting reached 1,220 votes, Moye said.
In Raleigh County, early voters can go to the Raleigh County Courthouse at 215 Main Street, second floor ceremonial courtroom, in Beckley from 8:30 am. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both Saturdays.
Raleigh County Voter Registration officials could not be reached Wednesday.
Early voting in Fayette County can be done at the Memorial Building at 200 W. Maple Avenue in Fayetteville; the Green Valley Church Annex at 6198 Meadow Bridge Road in Danese; and the Montgomery Community Center at 612 3rd Avenue in Montgomery. Votes can be cast from from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at each location.
In McDowell County, early voting will be available at the McDowell County Courthouse in Welch. The courthouse is open from 9 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday,
In Monroe County, early voting will be at the Union Rescue Squad building in Union and at Peterstown Town Hall. Early polls will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Like the rest of the state, early polls in Monroe and McDowell County will be open 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Saturdays Oct. 26 and Nov. 2.