by Kate Shunney
More than 1,000 county voters had already cast their ballots in West Virginia’s general election as of the end of the day on Monday, October 26.
Early voting at the courthouse began last Wednesday, October 21. It continues through this Saturday, October 31 at the County Clerk’s office.
According to Deputy Clerk Joyce Spring, by the end of Monday 1,061 ballots had been recorded so far. Of those, 220 ballots were cast on the first day of early voting, 240 ballots were cast on Thursday, 252 ballots were cast on Friday and 111 ballots were cast on Saturday, October 24.
That tallies to a voter turnout of 7.4% during the first five days of voting, with five more days of early voting to go before Election Day.
“It’s been pretty much non-stop,” said Spring.
There are 14,298 registered voters in Morgan County.
Voting in Morgan County’s 13 precincts will take place on Tuesday, November 3, with polls opening at 6:30 a.m. and staying open until 7:30 p.m.
On the ballot
On the ballot is one U.S. Senate seat, a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives representing this district, plus district races for the West Virginia Legislature, an Eastern Panhandle judicial race and in Morgan County, a contested race for the Morgan County Commission.
County voters will choose one person to fill a seat on the three-person Morgan County Commission. Commission terms are six years in length. This election season, Commission President Joel Tuttle’s seat is up for election. Tuttle, a Republican, is seeking another six years on the commission. He is being challenged in that race by political newcomer Democrat Judith Shumate.
At the district level, county voters will make a pick for a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates in either the 89th or 90th district, depending on where in Morgan County they live.
Central Morgan County voters will choose their delegate for the 90th district. Incumbent Republican George Miller is running for a third term in office. He’s being challenged by Democrat Ashley Braner, a Hedgesville hairdresser new to politics.
Residents in western Morgan County will choose a delegate for the 89th district. Appointee David Cannon, a Republican from Romney, is being challenged by trial lawyer JR Hepworth of Paw Paw, a Democrat, and Walter Long Sr., candidate for the Constitution Party from Slanesville.
Morgan County voters will also make their pick for a State Senator to represent the 15th district, which includes Morgan. Incumbent Republican Darren Thorne of Romney is being opposed by Democrat Elizabeth Ferris of Berkeley Springs. Republican Ken Reed of Berkeley Springs also entered the State Senate race as a write-in candidate late in the season.
Voters in the county will also cast ballots in a non-partisan race for a seat on the Circuit Court in the 27th Judicial Circuit, which includes Morgan County. Filling a seat left empty by the retirement of Judge Steve Redding, the race includes Joe Kinser of Martinsburg and Richard Stephens of Falling Waters.
Local voters will be choosing a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for the second congressional district. Republican Riley Moore of Harper’s Ferry is running for re-election, challenged by Democrat Ace Parsi of Morgantown.
At the top of the ticket, voters will make their pick for U.S. Senator representing West Virginia. Longtime Republican senator Shelley Moore Capito is seeking re-election. Challenger Rachel Fetty Anderson, a Democrat of Morgantown, is seeking to unseat Capito. Constitution Party candidate S. Marshall Wilson of Hedgesville is also in the race for the Senate.
The ballot also includes the text of Amendment 1, which proposes to add additional language in the state constitution that only citizens of the U.S. who are residents of the state are qualified to vote in the state.
Morgan County voter rolls
Morgan County has 14,298 registered voters as of October 18. October 13 was the last day to register to vote or change parties.
Of all Morgan County registrations, here are the party numbers:
1,960 voters (13.7%) are registered as Democrat
7,728 voters (54%) are registered as Republican
4,206 voters (29.4%) are registered as No Party
54 voters are registered as Mountain Party
150 voters (1%) are registered as Libertarian
4 voters are registered as Constitution Party
196 voters (1.37%) are registered Other – members of another listed minor party.
