BUCKHANNON – So far, early voting numbers for the 2024 primary are lower than two years ago.
Upshur County Clerk Carol Smith said 1,247 early voters had cast their ballots as of close of business on Wednesday, May 8th.
“That seems a little low,” Smith said. “We had a little over 2,000 supporters in the 2022 primary. [early voters]. It’s unlikely that another 800 people will vote in the next three days, so it’s unusual for voting to be this late in a presidential election year. ”
Early voting continues through Saturday, May 11 at the Upshur County Courthouse. Business hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays. In-person voting will take place in each precinct on primary election day, Tuesday, May 14, from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Approximately 100 people have applied for absentee ballots.
“We don’t know if more people are voting on Election Day as opposed to early voting, but as of yesterday we had about 100, probably 120 absentee ballots mailed in, and this is our ‘That’s a little bit more than the number of people who voted,’ which you normally see,’ Smith said. “So we had a little bit less early voting and a little more absentee voting than we normally would.”
Smith said the election process has gone smoothly so far and he expects a quick count on Election Day.
“We’ll probably finish counting by 9:30 p.m., so I don’t think it’s too late,” Smith said. “We will have to wait until the precinct arrives. Selbyville is further away, so it will take a little longer to get here, but even in 2022 it will be completed by 9:30 p.m. I think we have reached that point.”
The only precinct whose voting location has changed since the last presidential election is Precinct 33, which was located in the Excelsior Community Building. Due to rezoning, the district is now part of His 35 and His 37 districts located at Union Elementary School.
“Yesterday was the last day we could receive absentee ballot applications, so there are no more absentees, but we do have emergency absentee ballots available for people who may end up in the hospital. We’re going to resolve those things by Election Day,”’ Smith said. “We are open today, tomorrow and Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.”
All early voting will take place at the Upshur County Courthouse.
A sample ballot for the election can be found on the Upshur County Clerk’s website. For more information about local Upshur County candidates, see his My Buckhannon post in the recent candidate forum. Information about the Upshur County Commission race and how the district could affect the outcome can be found on My Buckhannon.
