EDITOR’S NOTE: This editorial was adapted from one that originally ran June 9, 2020. All times and dates have been updated for the current election cycle. If you’d like a copy of the Voter’s Guide or a paper with sample ballots, call Circulation at 304-292-6301 Monday-Friday from 7 a.m.-5 p.m.
The Primary Election is here. Early voting ends today and the official election day is Tuesday. 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, Tuesday 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. 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. Sample ballots appeared Wednesday, April 20, and will appear again tomorrow, Sunday, May 8. The Voter’s Guide was distributed with the May 1 Sunday paper.
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 for early voting, polls open at 9 a.m. and close at 5 p.m. On Tuesday, 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 Tuesday at 7:30 p.m., you may still vote. If you arrive after 7:30 p.m., you will not be permitted to vote.
Monongalia County polling locations can be found on page 15 of the Voter’s Guide and also at www.monongaliacountyclerk.com, or you can call the clerk’s office at 304-291-7230.
For Preston County residents, you can find your polling locations by contacting the Preston County clerk at 304-329-0070. Anyone can look up their polling location at https://services.sos.wv.gov/Elections/Voter/FindMyPollingPlace
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.
