Election canvass underway in Kanawha County

The election results in Kanawha County are expected to be official this week.

County leaders began canvassing the results from last week's primary election about 7 a.m. It will take several hours.

The county clerk is reviewing more than 250 provisional ballots.

There are a handful of races where only a few votes separate the winners from the second place candidates. However, County Clerk Vera McCormick tells WSAZ she doesn’t expect anything to change in the results because there were not enough provisional ballots in the races to effect the outcome.

During the canvass, they will also hand count five precincts, including three from Charleston and one from Belle. Commissioners say the purpose of the canvass is to ensure the integrity of the election and that every vote is counted.

This was the first year for the voter ID law. Commissioners say the county didn't appear to have any issues with the new law, but it will be reviewed during the canvass.

Also, this was the first year for community early voting locations in Kanawha County. This afternoon, commissioners are expected to discuss whether to continue this service. Commission President Kent Carper says he expects the county to offer it in November for the general election.

The county clerk says she hopes to continue the service too, because of its popularity and new voting machines.

"Before we had the optical scan ballot and we would have had to take thousands of ballots to every precinct and keep them. So this is a way we could go out and make it easier on our voters in different areas of the county," McCormick said.

The county offered early voting in six locations across the county, including the Elk Community Center, Sissonville Library, Cross Lanes Sheriff's Office, Belle Town Hall and Marmet Town Hall. Voters still had the option to vote at the Voter Registration Office in Charleston.

The results will be certified by the county commission after the canvass is completed.

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