W.Va. Polls Open with Few Problems
W.Va. Polls Open with Few Problems Save Email Print
Posted: 8:59 AM Nov 4, 2008
 Last Updated: 9:00 AM Nov 4, 2008
 Reporter: Associated Press
Email Address: news@wsaz.com
17 comments
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CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - A few glitches, but no major problems are being reported in West Virginia as voters flock to the polls.

Sarah C. Bailey, spokeswoman for Secretary of State Betty Ireland, says the day is off to a good start.

Mason County Clerk Diana N. Cromley says a steady stream of voters have been arriving at the polls since 6:30 a.m., leading her to predict a large turnout for Tuesday's balloting.

She and clerks in Webster and Wood counties reported minor problems, including paper jams that were quickly fixed and isolated machines that had to be replaced.

Webster County Clerk Terry J. Payne said she and her deputies made early morning runs to 14 precincts to distribute keys to unlock the ballot boxes. All but two still opened on time.
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Posted by: Melissa on Nov 4, 2008 at 06:03 PM
Wow! After hearing how bad it was at St. Albans High I'm sure glad I waited to change the address on my Drivers & Voters Registration cards after my recent move. I went to my old polling place at Hayes Jr. High and had no problems whatsoever. We were there for maybe 20 mins at most.
Posted by: A. Frasher on Nov 4, 2008 at 05:43 PM
Stood in Line for hour & a half. Nice weather. No problems glad to cast my vote.
Posted by: Anonymous on Nov 4, 2008 at 04:35 PM
now hold on here a minute why are the black panthers guarding the voting places in some states is this what we will be up against if nobama gets elected ?i dont think so also do they think they are going to be guarding us after this election i dont think so and why were they even there?
Posted by: Rachelle on Nov 4, 2008 at 03:22 PM
The number of voting booths at each location is determined by the number of people who voted in the primary election.
Posted by: Lindsay on Nov 4, 2008 at 03:14 PM
My wait in precinct 6 was maybe 15 min. no problems at all. I took my children with me to vote today and the feeling I got was overwhelming, I hope my kids will remember this day. What a wonderful day to make history!!
Posted by: PAM on Nov 4, 2008 at 02:07 PM
WHEN I VOTED AT 12:00 THERE WAS NO WAITING IN LINE AND NO PROBLEMS
Posted by: scott on Nov 4, 2008 at 01:59 PM
it ould have been nicer as well as faster if the Names A to L and M - Z would have been in plain sight at point harmoney
Posted by: Anonymous on Nov 4, 2008 at 12:52 PM
My friend at work had problems. They gave her a provisional ballot- she shouldn't have been flagged.
Posted by: dave on Nov 4, 2008 at 12:06 PM
I THINK THE BIG TURN OUT AT THE POLLS HAS CHANGE WRITTEN ALL OVER IT..
Posted by: PAUL GEE on Nov 4, 2008 at 12:05 PM
MY HEROS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN COWBOYS: CLINT EAST WOOD, JOHN WAYNE, CHUCK NORRIS, MAGNUM PI AND DALE EARNHARDT AND LITTLE JR, HANK AND JR, GEORGE STRAIT AND REAGAN: ALL BIG CONSERVATIVES THAT WOULD NEVER VOTE FOR OBAMA.
Posted by: sissonville not on Nov 4, 2008 at 11:37 AM
power is off at the old sissionville middle school the fire department is trying to get a gen set out there so people can cast thier vote. 11:30
Posted by: Booten & Wayne on Nov 4, 2008 at 11:24 AM
Probably rigged in Wayne Co. But oh, hey THAT'S right...WE in Wayne Co don't GET to vote for who is our "officials" i.e. Jim Booten! Nah, why bother with voting & voice of the people? Just "appoint" Booten & the other good ole boys! Why bother voting? They put in who they want just like always
Posted by: Disgruntled Voter on Nov 4, 2008 at 11:15 AM
Precinct 337 at St. Albans High School is a voter's nightmare. The poll workers are incompetent and very rude to voters. Betty Ireland's office needs to investigate.
Posted by: Jack on Nov 4, 2008 at 10:47 AM
Question, how does the county clerk decide how many voting machines are assigned to a precinct? My precinct had 3 and an hour plus wait this AM. The precinct that votes in the same building had 3 machines and the wait might have been 10 minutes. My precinct workers say they have been requested more machines each election. I saw a few people come and then leave when they discovered the wait time. I hope they make it back and vote tonight.
Posted by: Anonymous on Nov 4, 2008 at 09:35 AM
my grandaughter gets to vote to day for the first time at the age of 18 teen she is excited altho she is'nt voting who i'm voting for thats what makes this country so great we all have choice's
Posted by: think again on Nov 4, 2008 at 09:32 AM
few problems? apparently nobody has visited st. albans high school.. i'm sure more than the 80 voter's ballots were not even counted due to the incompetent election officials. i even saw a verbal fight break out, because one voter knew that the workers were running the machine incorrectly. i can't believe the people they hire for this day!!! this is an important day for americans and it rests in unqualified hands. great!
Posted by: Paul on Nov 4, 2008 at 09:07 AM
Don't give into fear. If you decide who to vote for based on an e-mail or internet rumors you should not be allowed to vote
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The Yell: Comments for the Week of 1/4
  • Posted By: Ari: Cheers to Rob-I feel ya!
  • Posted By: joe: I have worked for companies all over this nation and have had to take drug tests. Why should teachers be exempt from this practice? It is now common to be randomly tested(and I have been) so what makes a teacher any different than a steel worker. I can say proudly that I passed but I have seen those who didn't. They chose to use drugs and lost their jobs I didn't.
  • Posted By: Katy: As a teacher, I have no problem being randomly drug tested...as long as you agree to drug test the parents who enter the doors of my school as well. Most teachers deal with students who are exposed to/use more drugs and alcohol than any of the teachers. If these students or parents who are using drugs (and are not drug tested) enter our schools, the safety of the teachers and students are at risk. Since children spend more time with them, let's randomly drug test PARENTS, too!!!
  • Posted By: stephen: Why the heavy emphasis ont he damage to property and life Israel is doing . Where was the media uproar for years that Hamas was rocketing Israel irespective of innocent israelis.. Hamas is actualykilling their own citizens by firing rockets from UN schools and residents. Why does UN allow Hamas to use facilities for attacking Israel, then complain when Israel responds to protect their territory and citizens. Israel targets military targets, respons to from whence rockets or gun fire comes. What would we fire at if Huntington was attacked?Why does the media not put bla,e where balame belongs, and give moral support to the aggreived.What would America do if attacked? to whom would we listen? Russia, Saudi Arabia,Iran?.Media get REAL! Who has given Hamas and the Palestinians millions with which they could buy weapons---American taxpayers money!
  • Posted By: Robert: Although I feel for the employees that lost their positions at Cabell Huntington Hospital, at least more nurses were hired. I recently had a relative in the cardiac unit at Kings Daughters, in Ashland, and I was told that the nursing staff had been cut back and that no overtime was being given. This seems to be a drastic cut in patient care for a facility that spends thousands advertising that they are in the top 5% of cardiac hospitals in the country. I would be willing to wager that the Cleveland Clinic has not cut hours of those giving patient care.
  • Posted By: Boyd: If the state's budget is doing so well, why don't we use some of this money to help towns and cities in the state who are in trouble with their budget, or will this just become another pay raise for politicians?
  • Posted By: Rob: Why does everyone have to be so into using the term "racist" and have that kind of attitude. I know what my heritage is and who my ancestors were but you want to know what I consider myself? I AM AN AMERICAN! I was born and raised in this country and that's how I feel it should be. Born here, raised here.....then by God you are an American. Not an African American, not an Asian American etc. etc. You are an AMERICAN!
  • Posted By: Chris: To Ex-Officer: I agree with you 100% about the pay of police dept and the drug testing. I was formerly involved with the BCPD and had multiple ride alongs with the BCSO. I am probably one of their biggest critics due to having watch some of the bad side of the department for a long time. I wish that I could tell everything that I have seen officers do,which would put most of them behind bars or they'll lose their sheild, But retalliation is bad in our area. To the cops that do their job and do it with the best intentions, I proud of you and don't mean any disrespect. To the ones who I personally watch being more currupt then the "badguys" here,your day will be coming.
  • Posted By: Pablo: Teachers aren't the only ones underpaid. Law enforcement officers are underpaid also. And I'd like to speak about them. For example, I'm sure any parent would sacrifice their live for thier children. And several may give thier live to save their spouse. A few individuals may even do it for a close friend. But, I only know of 3 types of beings who will sacrifice thier lives for complete strangers; indeed even for people who hate them. The first would be our men and women in our armed forces. The second would be our law enforcement officers. And of course, third would be our Savior, Jesus Christ. Others are killed in the line of their employment, but not in order to save a complete stranger. Everytime a cop puts on his/her uniform, they can be a target for anyone upset about something. Even though it doesn't involve the cop personally, that very cop will give his life to save yours when a problem arises. We need to give our cops not only a wage, but a living wage and a great big THANKS.
  • Posted By: Craig: If what I am hearing is correct that Kanawha County teachers accepted a pay raise in return for submitting to drug testing, and then sued successfully so they do not have to be subject to testing, then why shouldn't we the taxpayers demand they return the raise?
  • Posted By: teresa: racist lmao i am one cherokee,german,irish,german,and who knows what else TIRED of hearing of racist comments u are either GOOD OR BAD k no skin color needed just evil or NOT
  • Posted By: Ex-Officer: I agree with Robert 100% I worked in law enforcement and loved the job but try to rise a family on less than 10.00 an hour (out of that pay for your own duty gear and gun). I believe that all public safety workers should be drug tested but i also believe that they should be paid for the job that they do. Not many people understand what a public safty worker goes through. Would you put your life on the line for this kind of pay? Remember the saying that you get what you pay for. I see this in several new officers in my area. Don't get me wrong there are still very good officers in law enforcement. Something really needs to be done about the low pay for these jobs.
  • Posted By: Garland: What's the difference between teachers and other workers(coal mineers, bus drivers, state employees,etc.)? Teachers aren't any better are they?
  • Posted By: : This is not a comment, but I would like comments on it please. What do you think of Poca High School? Racist or not?
  • Posted By: Robert: We the people, through our own self centeredness and apathy, have allowed our teachers and police officials to be some of the most underpaid people in the United States. We are trusting our childrens education and our public safety to the very people that are some of the most underpaid profesions in the U.S.. If I could change this, I would. However, I do believe that these people should be randomly drug tested. I work in the construction industry and I have no problem being drug tested. I have nothing to hide. I also believe that any person who is intrusted with the safety of others should have nothing to hide. This includes plitical officials up to and including the president.
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