Primary Election 2024

Early Voting Begins In West Virginia

By Joselyn King 3 min read
|Photo by Joselyn King| Two candidates for Wheeling and their supporters were among those waiting in line as early voting in West Virginia began Wednesday, and extends through May 11. Pictured from left are Beth Hinebaugh, candidate for Wheeling mayor, Ed Hinebaugh, Brett Andrews and J.T. Thomas, candidate for mayor. Election-related apparel is banned at the polls and Andrews was told to remove his hat and turn his shirt inside out.

WHEELING - There were a dozen residents waiting at the door to cast ballots when early voting season began Wednesday in Ohio County - and two of those present were candidates for Wheeling mayor.

Early voting is now underway at courthouses across West Virginia, taking place on weekdays and Saturdays through May 11.

Brock Hinebaugh, 18, was the first in line to vote in Ohio County and cast his first ballot ever before returning to class at Wheeling Park High School. He will be graduating this month.

Hinebaugh had a specific reason for turning out to vote.

"I came to vote for Mom (Wheeling mayoral candidate Beth Hinebaugh)," Brock Hinebaugh said. "But I probably would have voted anyway."

He added young people may not always be inspired to vote in elections "because it's long and boring."

Beth Hinebaugh and husband Ed Hinebaugh have eight children, and they said Brock is now the seventh registered voter among them. Youngest daughter Page, 16, also came with her family to the polls on Wednesday. Beth Hinebaugh commended her son, and said he "did his research" before coming to vote.

Next coming to vote was mayoral candidate J.T. Thomas and his friend Brett Andrews. Thomas said he was prepared to vote and wanted to get it done.

"I've heard enough now to know who I want to vote for," he said. "We have six candidates in the race, and every vote is going to count."

Andrews and Ed Hinebaugh both had on apparel supporting their respective candidates, and they were asked by elections officials to remove it as electioneering at the polls is prohibited in West Virginia.

Other candidates in the Wheeling mayor's race are Carl Carpenter, Rosemary Kethchum, Denny Magruder and Chad Thalman.

Jerry Jacobs and his wife Priscilla also came early to cast a ballot, and he explained it was "old age" that brought him out early.

"I like to get it done," he said. "I may die before Election Day, and I want to make sure I vote."

By the end of Wednesday, just under 200 residents had voted early in Ohio County.

Late afternoon totals saw 102 voting in Marshall County, 70 in Brooke, 60 in Wetzel, 54 in Hancock; and 33 in Tyler.

In addition to the Wheeling city elections, there is also a municipal election happening in Bethlehem. But all races are uncontested.

Candidates include Matthew Saseen, mayor; Rebecca Walters, recorder; Robert "Bob" Henry Jr., council Ward 1; Mark Saseen, council Ward 2; Guy Rahl, council Ward 3; Stephen Harasuik, council Ward 4; Dale Lewis, council Ward 5; Thomas H. Auten, council Ward 6; and Anna Fonner, council Ward 7.

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