Preston County election turnout among highest in state

KINGWOOD — Preston County’s estimate of a 42.32 percent voter turnout in Tuesday’s primary was the third highest in the state.
The West Virginia Secretary of State’s office estimated statewide voter turnout at 26.23 percent. Among the counties, Nicholas had the highest turnout with 46.45 percent, Ritchie had 44.31 percent, followed by Preston with 42.32 percent, according to the secretary of state.
Monongalia County’s estimated voter turnout was 19.79 percent, according to the secretary of state.
Although 42.32 percent puts Preston near the top for this election, it isn’t the highest turnout the county has had. In the November 2016 general election, a total of 69 percent of Prestonians voted. And in the 1996 general election, there was a record-setting 71 percent turnout.
“The weather brought people out, and the circuit judge and magistrate race and the fire levy,” Preston County Clerk Linda Huggins said.
The Republican ticket for county commissioner also created buzz, she said, as six candidates filed after incumbent Craig Jennings announced he would not seek re-election.
During early voting, Huggins said people would say they had a friend who was a firefighter whom they had promised they would come out and vote for the fire levy.
Preliminary results show the fire levy passed with 62.23 percent of the vote.
Huggins noted her office has also been proactive in weeding out inactive voters from the voter rolls. That means the county’s totals aren’t based on a total number of voters that includes people who have moved away, died or failed to vote for some time.
The Preston County Commission will begin canvassing the ballots Monday. It will be up to commissioners whether 35 provisional ballots are counted. These are ballots cast by people whose eligibility to vote is challenged by poll workers.
For example, if a voter goes to a poll other than that at which he or she is registered, it would be a provisional ballot.