Dear Editor,
Two weeks ago, I checked my voter status on the Secretary of State’s website. I learned that my precinct and polling place had been changed from Clifton Presbyterian Church in Maxwelton to Lewisburg United Methodist Church in Lewisburg.
Later, a friend told me she received new voter cards in the mail, and since I had not, I called the Courthouse. The woman I spoke with was helpful but surprised I had not received a letter. She promptly sent me a new voter card with the accompanying letter.
This past Friday, I received yet another letter from the Clerk’s office. This time the card indicated that I was back to my original polling place and precinct, Clifton Presbyterian Church.
I again called the Clerk’s Office at the Courthouse and verified that I was indeed back to my original precinct and polling place. I again verified this on the SOS website.
I asked what would happen if someone showed up at the wrong polling place. She stated that they would be allowed to cast a provisional ballot or directed to the correct location. She said that there are over 5,000 voters with changed precincts.
I am concerned that many folks will slip through the cracks and not check their polling place like I did. I am afraid that provisional votes will become uncounted votes. I worry that people who have transportation issues will choose to go home rather than where they are redirected. Given the large volume of changes, this need to be ironed out before the primary.
Maybe folks need to be encouraged to early vote so this won’t be an issue for them. Maybe they should check their registration at https://apps.sos.wv.gov/Elections/Voter/FindMyPollingPlace.
I sincerely hope that the officials in charge of our election will ensure that our election runs smoothly and that all of us will be able to cast votes that count.
Thank you,
Carol F. Evans
Lewisburg
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