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In many ways, the May 12 primary election is more important to West Virginians than if candidates for president were on the ballot. There are races for non-partisan offices that will be decided that day -- county school boards, the state Supreme Court and more. There are countywide partisan races for which voters will select a candidate to move on to the November general election. There are levy issues to be decided. There are party nominations for local candidates to the state House of Delegates and state Senate.
These are all matters and issues that will have much more impact on your life than anyone in Washington, D.C.
It's hard to rationalize, then, why so few of us actually get out and vote.
In the 2022 primary election, just 23% of registered West Virginia voters cast a ballot. That's less than 1 in 4, making decisions that impact everyone.
In our local counties, Tyler County led the way with 33% turnout in 2022, followed by Ohio County (28%), Hancock (27.5%), Brooke (25.4%), Wetzel (24%) and Marshall (23.3%). That's simply not good enough.
Unless those voting patterns change, many Mountain State residents will not go to the polls on this off-year Election Day or during the early voting period. There's absolutely no reason for that.
First, you can vote early starting April 29. You can vote on Election Day, May 12. Don't leave your vote out of the process.
But first, ensure you're registered to vote. The final day to do so is Tuesday, April 21. You can register in-person at your county clerk's office or online through the West Virginia Secretary of State's office at govotewv.com. You also can check your voter registration at that site.
There's no reason not to vote. As this nation prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary, let's remember one of the ideals most celebrated by our founding fathers: the right to vote. Register -- and vote.
It's what we're called to do.