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WEIRTON -- Early voting continues this week for West Virginia's May 8 primary election.
Registered voters interested in making use of the early voting period may do so by visiting their county clerk's office by Saturday.
Voters in Brooke County may cast their ballots from 9 a.m .to 5 p.m., while Hancock County residents may do so from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays. Offices will be open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday in all counties.
According to information from West Virginia Secretary of State Mac Warner's office, as of 8 a.m. Friday, 183 Brooke County residents had participated in the early voting process, while 104 had voted in Hancock County.
Of those registered voters in Brooke County, 108 were Democrats, 41 were Republicans and 33 were listed as having no party affiliation. One voter was listed as "other," according to the Secretary of State's website.
In Hancock County, there were 56 Democrats voting as of Friday morning, 39 Republicans and nine with no party affiliation.
Voters now are required to bring identification with them when they come to the polls. Accepted forms of identification include drivers licenses, voter registration cards, Medicare or Social Security cards, birth certificates or valid West Virginia hunting and fishing licenses. Utility bills issued within the past six months also are an accepted form of identification.
In Brooke County, voters will select the Democrat nominee for county commission in a race between John Casinelli of Follansbee and A.J. Thomas of Wellsburg. The winner will face Republican Don Perkins in November.
A field of eight candidates are seeking three seats on the Brooke County Board of Education, with Chris Byers of Weirton; incumbent Pam Dudley of Wellsburg; Stacy Hooper of Colliers; Jamie Lancaster of Colliers; incumbent Jim Lazear of Wellsburg; Ralph Smith of Wellsburg; Andrew Williams of Follansbee; and Ted Pauls of Bethany on the ballot.
In Hancock County, six candidates are facing off for three seats on that county's school board., with candidates including incumbent Michelle Chappell of New Cumberland; Seth Cheuvront of Newell; Gabby Fighiroae of Chester; incumbent Toni N. Hinerman of Weirton; Danny Kaser of New Cumberland; and incumbent Larry Shaw of New Cumberland.
Republicans Tommy Ogden and Mark R. Tetrault, both of New Cumberland, are facing off for the nomination to go up against Democrat incumbent Jeff Davis for a seat on the Hancock County Commission.
U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin faces competition on the Democrat ballot from Paul Jean Swearengen, and there are six candidates on the Republican ticket seeking the office he holds -- Don Blankenship, Bo Copley, Evan Jenkins, Patrick Morrisey, Jack Newbrough and Thomas Willis.
There also is a contested Democrat race for the U.S. House District 1 seat between Ralph Baxter, Kendra Fershee and Tom Payne.
Local legislative races will all move on for the November general election.