The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Local News

November 12, 2008

Four counties report a smooth election canvass

Nicholas County count is ongoing

By Matthew Hill

County officials in southern West Virginia counties reported no problems Wednesday in their canvasses of last week’s election results, although one canvass is continuing into today.

Nicholas County’s canvass started Monday and will continue today, according to the chief deputy clerk. County offices were closed Tuesday for Veterans Day.

As she explained it, at least two county commissioners are required to be present for the canvass, and one of them had to leave early for a meeting Wednesday afternoon. Otherwise, the canvass might have been completed Wednesday.

Nicholas County Clerk Wanda Hendrickson was working with others on the canvass in an annex that does not have a telephone, the chief deputy clerk said.

Both Hendrickson and county commissioners were unavailable for comment Wednesday and did not immediately return messages left with their offices.

While minor changes in vote totals were reported in some counties due to absentee and provisional ballots, none was significant enough to alter the outcomes of any contests, officials said.

Fayette County Clerk Kelvin Holliday reported a voter turnout of nearly 60 percent.

“I would’ve liked to see even more, but that’s a very good showing,” Holliday said, adding that 67 percent of his county’s voters cast ballots in 2004.

Fayette County’s canvass took place Monday, and county commissioners will convene Friday to certify the vote, he explained.

“We didn’t have a bit of problems,” Monroe County Clerk Donald Evans said. He noted county commissioners will meet today to certify results. Monroe County voters participated in the election at a rate of 62 percent, Evans stated.

Summers County officials spent nearly five hours Monday poring over their ballots, County Clerk Mary Beth Merritt observed.

“We didn’t have any trouble. It ran smoothly with no problem at all,” she said, touting a voter turnout of almost 59 percent.

The Summers County Commission will certify that vote today.

Wyoming County commissioners will certify their county’s vote today as well following Monday’s canvass, County Clerk Mike Goode said.

“Nothing changed. It went very smoothly. The poll workers did a great job,” Goode emphasized, noting his county’s voter turnout of around 40 percent was “not bad for us.”

The canvass in Raleigh County had no problems, according to Commissioner John Humphrey.

— E-mail: mhill@register-herald.com





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