Primary Election Day is here — cast your ballot today

The long-awaited (and we do mean long, given the coronavirus delays) Primary Election is officially here. The primary decides who goes head-to-head in November for major races such as president, governor and both national and state House and Senate. The primary is also the final decision for local and state races such as the courts and boards of education. For those offices, today is the last day to (metaphorically) speak now or forever hold your peace — at least until the next time those races are on the ballot.

To prepare you for this day of civic participation, we’re going to share some reminders.

First, voting is not like taking a test. Well, maybe it is, but like an open-note test. You can fill out a sample ballot beforehand and take it into the voting booth with you. You can even take a Voter’s Guide. Or you can write a list of the candidates you support. There are a lot of names to remember, and by the time you’re ready to mark your official ballot, you may not remember if that name stands out because you did want to vote for them or because you did not. Here’s the caveat: No electronics allowed inside the booth and if you bring a list or sample ballot, it can only be for your own use. So no passing it off to a friend or family member still in line. Sunday’s paper (DP-6-7-20) contains the sample ballots: Democrat (B3), Republican (B4) and non-partisan (B5). The Voter’s Guide was distributed with the May 24 Sunday paper. Subscribers can also view the Voter’s Guide online at https://www.dominionpost.com/voters-guide-2020/

Voting is a constitutional right; informed voting is a civic duty. Know who you are voting for and what they stand for before you go to the polls. Voting on name recognition alone is the adult equivalent of the mean girl getting voted Homecoming Queen because the underclassmen know her name but haven’t faced her wrath.

Second, if you are voting in person today, polls open at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m. According to the Secretary of State website, if you are standing in line at the polls at 7:30 p.m., you may still vote. If you arrive after 7:30 p.m., you will not be permitted to vote. For Mon County residents, polling locations were listed in Sunday’s paper on page A5, and they can also be found at www.monongaliacountyclerk.com or call the clerk’s office at 304-291-7230. Please note Precinct 61 changed from Ridgedale Elementary School to Clinton District VFD.

For Preston County residents, polling locations can be found on page 26 of the Voter’s Guide. The Preston County clerk can also be reached at 304-329-0070. Anyone can look up their polling location at https://services.sos.wv.gov/Elections/Voter/FindMyPollingPlace

For those who voted absentee, remember today is the last day your ballot can be postmarked and still be accepted. If you’ve already mailed your ballot and want to make sure it arrived, you can check its status at https://services.sos.wv.gov/Elections/Voter/AbsenteeBallotTracking

At The Dominion Post, we have done our best to give you the tools you need to be informed voters. Now it’s up to you to cast your ballot.