PARKERSBURG -Early voting for the Oct. 4 special gubernatorial general election starts on Wednesday and ends Oct. 1.
The deadline to register to vote in the election was last Tuesday.
"We didn't have a noticeable change in the numbers, there were few new registrations," said deputy clerk Elizabeth Beary.
A total of 54,332 people are registered to vote in the election: 21,457 Democrats; 21,819 Republicans; 11,019 registered as no party; and 37 registered for the Mountain Party.
Mailed registration can still be counted if it was postmarked on Sept. 13. The last day to accept an absentee ballot application request is Sept. 28.
"Those must be received in the office by 4:30 p.m. Sept. 28, no mail-ins can be accepted, even if they are postmarked on the deadline," Beary said.
Fact Box
For Your Information
For information statewide, go the secretary of state's website at www.sos.wv.gov/elections.
For information on the Wood County Clerk's offices go to www.woodcountywv.com.
Questions regarding voting registration or polling places can be directed to the clerk's office on the fourth floor of the Wood County Courthouse from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday or by calling 304-424-1860.
Early voting starts on Wednesday and ends Oct. 1. All early voting will be conducted in the Fort Boreman public meeting room of the Judge Black Courthouse Annex. Entrance is through the double doors off Market Street, across from the Blennerhassett Hotel. Voting hours will be 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday (Sept. 24 and Oct. 1).
Candidates for governor appearing on the ballot are: Bill Maloney, Republican, from Morgantown; Earl Ray Tomblin, Democrat, of Charleston; Bob Henry Baber, Mountain Party, of Glenville; Marla Ingels, Independent, of New Haven; and Harry Bertram, American Third Position, of Maidsville.
According to the West Virginia Secretary of State's office, these are the candidates who have secured their party nominations or submitted a sufficient number of petition signatures to gain ballot access.
Certification of three write-in candidates was finalized on Aug. 24.
Wood County Clerk Jamie Six said a list of the names of the certified write-in candidates will be posted at the early voting and regular voting precincts. In order to vote for a write-in candidate, the voter has to check the write-in box then manually type in the name of the candidate.
The certified write-in candidates for the Oct. 4 special election are: John R. "Rick" Bartlett of Kingwood, Phil Hudok of Huttonsville and Donald Lee Underwood of Buffalo.
Wood County voters also will decide a proposed five-year excess levy. If passed by a 60 percent majority, the levy would go into effect July 1 and raise $957,140 a year, divided among: the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport ($453,382), the Parkersburg-Wood County Library ($453,382) and the Veterans Museum of the Mid-Ohio Valley ($50,376).
On a home valued at $100,000, the levy would cost taxpayers an additional $13.68 a year; or $10.94 on a home valued at $80,000.
All financial statements from candidates are to be filed with the secretary of state since it is a statewide election. For more information, go the secretary of state's website at www.sos.wv.gov/elections.
Two permanent changes in Wood County polling places will be effective in this election.
Precinct 85 previously located at Rockport Community Building will move to Rockport Church of Christ, while Precinct 81 will move from Wadesville Church of Christ to Hopewell Church of Christ.
