WHEELING — More than 65,000 West Virginians already have requested an absentee ballot for the Nov. 3 presidential election.

A total of 65,348 requests had been verified by the county clerks as of Sept. 15, according to information provided by the West Virginia Secretary of State’s Office.

Local counties are seeing their fair share of requests for absentee ballot applications, the data indicates.

Ohio County has processed 1,893 applications, while Marshall County has sent out 968.

In Hancock County, there have been 860 requests; and in Brooke County, 820. Wetzel County has had 409 absentee ballot requests, while Tyler County reports 209.

County clerks offices throughout West Virginia, and the Ohio County Commission office in Ohio County, began sending out absentee ballot applications in early August.

After an application is received and the voter’s registration verified, they are mailed an absentee ballot.

An absentee ballot application can be obtained from county offices, or online at sos.wv.gov/elections/Pages/AbsenteeVotingInformation.aspx.

All registered voters in West Virginia are permitted to vote absentee this election. They need only to check the option box on the ballot application that states, “Illness, injury or other medical reason which keeps me confined (includes concerns of COVID-19).”

All requests for absentee ballots by mail must be received by county offices by Oct. 28 so voter registration can be verified and the applications mailed out in time for the Nov. 3 election.

Absentee ballots may be returned by in person or to county offices before Election Day. Ballots mailed in to the office must be postmarked prior to Nov. 3 to be counted.

Voters still have the options of voting in-person, either during early voting season or on Election Day.

Early voting is slated to happen at West Virginia courthouses Oct. 21-31, with polls closed on Sunday, Oct. 25.

(King can be contacted at jking@theintelligencer.net)