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.
“I think it’s the smart move,” Granville Mayor Patty Lewis told The Dominion Post on Wednesday. “It’s going to be more convenient all the way around. Hopefully, we’re going to have a better turnout and more voices in our elections because people will be coming out to vote in the primary. It will be more convenient for us as well because it’s getting harder and harder to find poll workers. Elections are a big commitment and a big responsibility. I just think, overall, it was a great decision to follow what Westover and Star City already have done.”
As Lewis indicated, Granville will be the third municipality to eliminate a standalone election to move in line with the county primary.
The May 14 primary, which included municipal races for both Star City and Westover residents, marked the first time city elections were held in conjunction with the county.
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.
While Tuesday’s vote was in a general election and not a primary, Lewis couldn’t help but point to the 315 votes on the measure.
A total of 67 ballots were cast by the town’s 646 registered voters in Granville’s 2023 municipal election.
“We’ve never ever had 300 people vote in a city election – ever,” Lewis said.
Morgantown City Council recently voted 4-3 against putting this same question before its voters.
All results are unofficial until certified through canvassing.
