West Virginia’s primary election is May 10. While this may still seem far away, it really isn’t in the grand scheme of things, and will be here before we know it.

In reality, we’re in the midst of the election calendar, with campaigning in full swing.

Absentee ballots began going out on Friday to those who have submitted applications to their county clerk. Those absentee ballots will be available until May 4, so if you qualify and feel that is how you wish to cast your vote, you should get your application in sooner rather than later.

Keep in mind the absentee ballot program used in 2020 because of COVID-19 restrictions, where every registered voter was sent a ballot application, will not be used this time around (or possibly ever again).

The next big deadline will be April 19 for those who want to register to vote or change their party affiliation.

We have several local offices set to appear on the ballot this spring, including county commission races and several candidates seeking seats on the boards of education in both Hancock and Brooke counties.

There are county clerk and circuit clerk races, as well as various political committees. Then, you look up the chain to those seeking office in our state Legislature. We have four individuals (two Republicans and two Democrats) going for a state Senate seat to represent much of the Northern Panhandle. There also are those hoping to represent the recently redrawn House of Delegates districts each of which now will be represented by a single person.

We’re still working to plan out the details of all of our coverage prior to and during the election itself. The hope is to have questionnaires out to all of the candidates soon and begin having previews appearing in our pages before the early voting period begins on April 27.

There are sure to be events and appearances with some of the candidates in the coming weeks. I know there were several candidates in attendance at Tuesday’s Weirton Chamber dinner, and I’m assuming some of the local political committees will be planning “Meet the Candidate” events at some point.

Several of the candidates also have started making their way through the local communities, going door-to-door and visiting with residents. Signs are going up in front yards and along the roadways.

It’s important for local voters to pay attention to who is seeking what office and what their platforms involve. Also, keep in mind that some of these races will be decided by the May election, while others will move on to the general election in November.

The Hancock County commission race, for example, features three Republican candidates seeking the same seat. Local school boards, which are established as non-partisan, also will be determined this spring. Legislative races will carry on to November, but with different results from May. The Senate race, for example, will have the top candidates from each party move on, while the local House of Delegates already each have one Democrat and one Republican running.

These men and women, for various reasons, are seeking these elected positions and are expected to represent the desires of their constituents. I would ask the voters of Hancock and Brooke counties to use the next few weeks to start looking into each candidate out there and see whether they line up with your values, wants and needs. They will be your voice, whether in Washington, D.C., Charleston or here at home.

(Howell, a resident of Colliers, is managing editor of The Weirton Daily Times, and can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com or followed on Twitter @CHowellWDT)