Voters in the town of Granville voted overwhelmingly in support of moving the town’s standalone municipal election in line with the county primary.
Based on Tuesday’s unofficial totals, 269 supported the move while 47 voted in opposition.
Included on the ballot for Granville residents was a special election that will put the town’s elections in-cycle with the county starting in May 2026.
The town will hold its standalone election as normal on June 10, 2025. Winners in that election will serve a one-year term and all seats will be back up for election, with the town’s traditional two-year terms, the following May.
Granville Mayor Patty Lewis previously told The Dominion Post the move is more convenient for voters and therefore likely to increase participation.
According to Lewis, 67 of the town’s 646 registered voters participated in the town’s 2023 election.
Granville will be the third municipality to make the move behind Star City and Westover.
The May 14 primary marked the first time municipal elections were held in conjunction with a county-run election.
The impact on turnout was immediate and dramatic in both instances.
The last two standalone elections conducted by Star City saw 121 and 109 voters participate. As part of the county ballot, 314 of Star City’s 1,116 registered voters (28.14%) participated.
In Westover, 55 voters cast ballots in the 2020 municipal election. That number jumped to 127 in 2022. On May 14, 769 ballots were cast by Westover residents, representing just over 28% of the city’s 2,718 registered voters.
Morgantown City Council recently voted 4-3 against putting the question before its voters.
All results are unofficial until certified through canvassing.
