On Aug. 28, West Virginia will conduct a primary election to help determine who will succeed the late U.S. Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va. The senator’s passing left a void in the state’s representation that must be filled as soon as possible, so county clerks and their staffs are hurrying to prepare for the primary.
Getting ready for any type of election involves making sure voting machines are properly prepared and that poll workers are organized and trained for the day. Arrangements must be made so the votes will be counted in a timely manner so the public can learn the results. All of these preparations can take time, and this year the unexpected primary is requiring county clerks across the state to make an extra effort to ensure that polling places will be ready for Aug. 28.
While county clerk’s offices are making sure they are ready to open the polls, residents who want to help decide who will be Byrd’s successor should make sure they are ready to cast their ballots. Each person must make sure he or she is registered to vote.
Anyone who is not sure if they are registered should contact their county clerk’s office and ask for the voters registration office. The deadline for registering in time for this primary election is Aug. 9.
What this primary will do is determine which Republican and Democratic candidates will be on the ballot during the November election. It’s just the first step.
First who will be in the running is determined. Then the voters decide who will go to Washington, D.C.
All of this work devoted to getting the polls ready for the primary election won’t mean much if voters do not come out and cast their ballots. People who can’t get to their polling places on Aug. 28 can go to their county courthouses and take advantage of early voting on Aug. 20, 21, 23, 24 and 25.
Aug. 21 is a Saturday, so it’s possible for most eligible voters to reach a polling place without worrying about taking time off work or school.
The actual act of voting takes only a few minutes. New electronic voting machines are easy to use: in fact, no harder to use than a standard ATM machine. Anyone who wishes to vote should be able to do so without any difficulty.
Choosing who will take Byrd’s seat in the United States Senate is an important decision that the entire state should take part in deciding. It is not a choice that should be left to only a few people who take the trouble to vote. Every resident of the state who is eligible to vote should take the time to cast their ballot and help decide the future course of West Virginia.
Editorials
July 27, 2010
W.Va.’s future — Be ready to vote in senate primary
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