MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — In Monongalia County, polling locations have operated without many issues on Election Day.
Clerk Carye Balney said the biggest recurring issue is the number of provisional ballots that have been required for this election. That number is expected to increase with voter turnout, and voter turnout numbers are nearing record territory.
“We’ve got more issues with provisional ballots. Maybe some people aren’t registered to vote, or they haven’t voted in a long time, or they may have gone to the wrong location, typical election day types of issues,” Blaney said.
Blaney said she has used the 2016 election because the numbers in 202 were likely influenced by election changes as part of the pandemic. In that election, she said 20,000 people voted early, making the certified total around 37,000 for the 2016 election.
“Right now, between early voting and Election Day, we’re sitting at about 35,000 at 2:30 Tuesday afternoon,” Blaney said. “So, I think we’re going to exceed that.”
Blaney credited planning, preparation, her staff, and volunteers for the smooth operations on Election Day.
“We work very hard in our county to make sure we have an adequate number of machines to handle a larger volume of voters when they appear to vote,” Blaney said. “And that we have an adequate number, if not more than enough, of poll workers to assist the voters while they are in the voting location.”
In Morgantown, Sharon is a 49-year-old first-time voter.
“It’s not silly because it is my first time,” Sharon said. “Things are just way too crazy—one side is just too far out there.”
Another first-time voter in the Morgantown area is Ian, who came out because he said it’s the right thing to do.
“This is my first time voting,” Ian said. “I just haven’t done it before, and I feel like it’s the right thing to do.”