Large voter turnout expected locally

By CHARLES OWENS
Bluefield Daily Telegraph

May 12, 2008 07:53 pm

— PRINCETON — After months of campaigning by the candidates, it’s now time for voters to have their say.
Polls open today in West Virginia at 6:30 a.m., and close at 7:30 p.m. A large voter turnout is expected across southern West Virginia.
“I understand the weather is going to be nice, which ought to bring them (voters) out,” Mercer County Clerk Rudolph Jennings said. “Just get out and vote, and exercise your right to vote.”
Jennings said 1,576 early votes were cast in Mercer County, including ballots by 1,291 Democrats and 198 Republicans. Jennings said Mercer County has 34,469 registered voters, including 20,192 Democrats and 9,130 Republicans.
Jennings said he is hoping to see between 45 percent to 50 percent of the county’s registered voters out today. The nomination battle between Democrats Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama is helping to fuel local interest.
Jennings said the only polling precinct change in Mercer County is the relocation of a Bluefield polling precinct from the Nazarene Church to the Bluefield Youth Center.
McDowell County Clerk Don Hicks said he too is hoping to see a 50 percent voter turnout today.
Hicks said McDowell County has about 15,000 registered voters. However, 700 new voters have been registered since January. Hicks said 701 early votes were cast in McDowell County.
“If you base it upon early voting, they are showing we might hit that 50 percent mark,” Hicks said. “I’m hoping the weather will clear up and people will get out and vote. That shows we choose who runs city, county, state and federal government. They do have a say so. And elections here have been won by one vote.”
Hicks said voters in McDowell County are reminded of several polling precinct changes for today. In Berwind, the polling precinct moves from the old community school to the Masonic Lodge Hall. In the Endwell community, the precinct moves from the Headstart center to the Rebecca Lodge.
In the Big Sandy community, the polling precinct moves from the Headstart center to the Big Sandy Church of God, Hicks said. The Elbert and Filbert polling precinct also moves to the Gary City Hall.
Hicks said the residents of McDowell County are urged to vote today.
“I’m hopeful that the weather will be better,” Hicks said. “And even whether the weather is good or bad, everyone should go out and exercise their right to vote.”
Hicks said soldiers are fighting everyday overseas for our constitutionally guaranteed freedom to vote.
– Contact Charles Owens at cowens@bdtonline.com