Kanawha County commissioners to hold public voting test this week

Kanawha County Clerk Vera McCormick tests a machine in 2022. Commissioners will hold a public voting test on Wednesday, Oct. 16.Photo byKanawha County Clerk's Office

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Members of the Kanawha County Commission will test public voting machines this week, in preparation for the November election.

Commission members announced the test, which will be conducted 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 16, via a public notice.

The testing will take place at the Kanawha County Voter Registration Office located at 415 Quarrier St. in Charleston.

Early voting for the general election runs from Wednesday, Oct. 23 through Saturday, Nov. 2. There are nine early voting sites within Kanawha County. Locations include:

• Voters Registration Office, 415 Quarrier St., Charleston;
• Belle Town Hall, 1100 East Dupont Ave., Belle;
• Cross Lanes Sheriff’s Detachment, 903 Cross Lanes Drive, Cross Lanes;
• Elkview Community Center, 1078 Main Street, Elkview;
• Marmet Town Hall, 9403 MacCorkle Ave., Marmet;
• Nitro Police Department, 497 First Ave. South, Nitro;
• Sissonville Library, 1 Tinney Lane, Sissonville;
• St. Albans City Hall, 1499 MacCorkle Ave., St. Albans; and
• Girl Scouts of Black Diamond Council, 321 Virginia St. West, Charleston.

Early voting is open at all county locations from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Registered voters may vote at any early voting location. A form of ID is required.

Election day is Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

This year, Kanawha County voters will elect one new county commissioner. The winner will fill the vacancy left by Kent Carper, who resigned earlier this year amid a federal investigation. Marc Slotnick has been temporarily filling Carper’s position.

Democrat Natalie Tennant, a former West Virginia Secretary of State, and Republican Chris Walters, a former state delegate, will vie for the open commission position. The winner will join panel members Lance Wheeler and Ben Salango after the election.

Following Wednesday’s public voting test, commissioners will hold a 5 p.m. special meeting.

Michael Ramsburg is a Kanawha County communities reporter. He can be reached at ramsburgreports@gmail.com or by calling 304-370-3067.