Thursday's Internet Edition, August 28, 2008.

Early voting will start in county clerk’s offices all over West Virginia on Wednesday, April 23.

County Clerk Charlie White said early voting has been popular in Roane County, which led the state in the general election of 2004 when just under 30 percent of the votes cast were before election day.

In the last primary, in 2006, more than 20 percent of the ballots cast locally were early votes, while the number was more than 28 percent in the general election that year.

The first time early voting was offered, in the primary election of 2002, only 7 percent of the county’s voters cast ballots early.

“People like early voting,” White said. “It’s simple and easy and, except for the last couple of days, you don’t have to wait in line.”

White said voters who have moved from one address to another within the county but failed to update their registration might also find it easier to vote in the county clerk’s office, since all the precinct books are there.

If someone who has moved within the county votes at their precinct on election day, they might have to vote a provisional ballot, formerly called a challenged ballot, until their registration can be verified during the canvassing process after the election. Voting early prevents that problem.

Voters who have moved from outside the county, however, must change their registration by the registration deadline, White said.

The last day to register to vote, or to change party affiliation, will be Tuesday, the day before early voting begins.

The county clerk’s office, on the first floor of the courthouse, is open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon. On the last two Saturdays before the election, May 3 and May 10, the office will be open until 5 p.m.

Saturday, May 10, will be the last day for early voting, which will not be offered on the Monday before the May 13 primary election.

The clerk’s office also accepts applications for absentee ballots by mail. This is for people who can not make it to the office for early voting or to the polls on election day including military personnel, college students, those who work away from home or people with medical excuses. White said applications could be mailed to voters up until May 7.

Voters who wish to request an application be mailed to them, or others with questions about voting or registration, may contact White’s office at 927-2860.