Early voting sites opened Tuesday

VIENNA - Warren and Judy Peascoe braved freezing rain and cold to be among the first to cast ballots at the Vienna city building, one of four community early vote sites that opened Tuesday.

"We've early voted at four or five elections, sometimes we vote at the Judge Black early vote site," Judy said. "Early voting assures we vote, so if something comes up at the last minute that might keep us from voting on election day."

"Early voting allows you to choose your time to go, and we live in Vienna so it's convenient," Warren noted.

Article Photos

Photo by Pamela Brust
Warren and Judy Peascoe look over a copy of the League of Women Voters election guide in the Parkersburg News and Sentinel before going in to cast their ballots at the Vienna city building. The city building is one of four community early vote sites that opened Tuesday.

"I think for those who are shift workers or have jobs out of town, early voting allows them to be able to vote in person rather than having to request an absentee ballot," Judy said.

"For the handicapped it also helps, it's very practical," Warren said. The Vienna city building has automatic doors and is handicapped accessible. Warren noted he also appreciates that Wood County has a paper trail for the optical scan voting machines. "You can actually check the paper trail to see who you voted for."

Judy and Warren are both members of the League of Women Voters, and Judy is a naturalized citizen, having moved to the U.S. from Canada. She said she's voted in every election since becoming a citizen here.

League of Women Voters President Nancy Novak said she prefers to vote on election day. "I just enjoy the atmosphere at the polling place on election day," she said. "We do urge everyone to vote, it's your civic duty."

The Wood County clerk's office reported, as of Monday afternoon, 4,577 people had early voted so far.

Wood County's four community voting sites will open Oct. 30 through Nov. 3. Hours at those sites, Monday through Friday, will be 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., and Saturday, Nov. 3, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. The four community sites will only be open one Saturday. The sites will be located at: Williamstown City Building, 100 West Fifth St.; Vienna City Building, 609 29th St., Vienna; Mineral Wells Volunteer Fire Department, 1695 Elizabeth Pike, and Lubeck Volunteer Fire Department, 1340 Harris Highway.

Early voting is a popular option for West Virginians. In the 2008 General Election, more than 153,000 people voted during the early vote period, almost 22 percent of all of the votes cast in that election. Even though the early voting period has been shortened since then, Secretary of State Natalie E. Tennant expects voter turnout to be strong.

Early voting opened last Wednesday at the downtown location in the Judge Black Courthouse Annex, accessible through the double doors across Market Street from the Blennerhassett Hotel. Early voting is available at that site through Nov. 3, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Early voting at the Black Annex will also be available on Saturday, Oct. 27 and Saturday, Nov. 3 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Voters are reminded no electioneering is permitted on courthouse property during early voting. No campaigning is allowed on community vote site properties and on election day there is a 300 foot campaign-free zone from the polling place entrance.

General Election day is Nov. 6.