May ballot set in Mercer County
Feb. 22—By GREG JORDAN
Bluefield Daily Telegraph
PRINCETON — A drawing this week has determined the order in which county candidates are appearing on the ballot when voters head for the polls this May for the primary election.
A ballot order drawing held at the Mercer County Courthouse was well attended by local candidates and other officials, County Clerk Verlin Moye said Wednesday. The method used for determining what order candidates will appear on a ballot is the same at many county clerk's offices.
"We put a number on a ball just like a bingo ball and it is drawn randomly," Moye said.
The numbered balls go into a container like the ones used for bingo games. It is shaken up, and then the candidates or a ballot commissioner draws a number, Moye said.
Moye said the ballot order drawing was conducted Tuesday.
"I think just one or two candidates weren't there," he said. "This was done in the voters registration office. There were several candidates who maybe are not familiar with the process of running for office. This was a good learning experience for them. It shows the transparency and the pride we take in the procedure."
The next preparatory step for the May primary is to test the county's new voting machines, Moye said. There are 162 new Express voting machines which will replace older ones.
"They're nice," he said. "The poll workers are going to love them. They're similar to the last machines and the voters are going to love them, too."
People are being encouraged to make sure they are registered to vote. Moye said as of Wednesday, his office is seeing about 20 new registrations a day. There had been about 500 address changes from the National Change of Address process.
"We're increasing the momentum of our '24 Election cycle procedures and are hopeful for a great voter participation/turnout," Moye said. "Voters should always keep a check on our website for updates and information."
The county's voter website is mercervotes.com.
Upcoming election dates are as follows: — April 23 is the deadline for voter registration. — May 1 to May 11 will be for early voting in person. Early voting hours will be from Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. — May 7 to May 13, publish official list of candidates or sample ballot for Election Day. — May 14, Primary Election from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. — May 20, Canvass returns at 9 a.m.
— Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@bdtonline.com
