MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Monongalia County Clerk Carye Blaney and her staff are preparing for the May primary election, and she recommends registered voters get ready for the expansive ballot that awaits on May 14.
In addition to non-partisan races for magistrate, judge, board of education, and conservation district supervisor, there are also four levy renewals and the Monongalia County Schools bond request for the proposed Renaissance Academy.
Knowing the ballot is very important because poll workers can only offer help with casting the ballot, not offer information regarding specific items on the ballot.
“It has made our ballot very long,” Blaney said. “So, there is a lot of information on this ballot that the voter will need to read and be prepared to vote on prior to coming to the polls.”
The deadline to update your voter registration to include party affiliation is April 23. Registered Democrats and Republicans will be required to pull a ballot for their party, but there are options for other registered voters.
“Anyone who is registered as a “no party” affiliated voter or any of the other minor parties will have the option to choose either a Democratic, Republican, or Mountain Party ballot,” Blaney said.
Even if registered voters don’t anticipate making any changes to their information, Blaney said everyone should check the information inside the time window. For many registered voters, there have been life changes or moves that should be noted to prevent the possibility of a provisional ballot on election day.
“If you wish to change any of that, update your name. Maybe you got married or moved and you need to update your residence address. Now is the time to do that, and you have until April 23,” Blaney said.
Blaney said all these changes can be made online with the proper identification at govotewv.com.
“You can do that online as long as you have a driver’s license or a general ID card, and you can process all of that information online until April 23,” Blaney said.
Early voting will begin at three locations in Monongalia County on May 1 and run through May 11. The polling locations will be open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. On election day, May 14, the polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
“Our main election center is at the Mountaineer Mall, Mason-Dixon Park out in the western end of the county, and we have a third location at Suncrest Towne Center, which is right next to First United Bank & Trust.”