In a little more than a week, Election Day will be upon us. Hundreds of area residents already have cast their votes through the state’s in-person early voting process. In fact, it wouldn’t surprise me if the numbers in Hancock and Brooke counties each surpass 1,000 by the time you’re reading this piece.

That’s incredible at any point, but then consider that in the 2020 presidential election, Brooke County had a total voter turnout of 10,740, with Hancock County seeing 13,942 votes cast that year, according to results listed on the West Virginia Secretary of State’s website.

The 2022 general election (the “mid-term”) saw 6,686 voters step into the polls in Brooke County and 8,809 in Hancock County. In this year’s primary election, held in May, Brooke County had 4,749 voters, with 5,496 in Hancock County.

I’m sure there is a lot of analysis that could be done on those numbers, considering the point in the cycle, the number and quality of candidates, the issues on the ballot beyond the offices up for grabs. Consider, also, that primary number from this year, especially as West Virginia traditionally has had one of the later primary elections. At that point, the presidential nominees typically are decided by the time we Mountaineers get to vote. None of us probably imagined the way this year’s presidential election would go, though.

There’s a lot to take in, with a variety of candidates up and down the ballot, as well as a Constitutional Amendment proposal in West Virginia, a couple of levies in Hancock County, and a list full of issues for our neighbors in Ohio.

We’ve had visits from some candidates, mailers galore, and our inboxes have probably been inundated with spam emails asking for donations or attacking opposing candidates. (I know mine has).

Elections are an exciting time for many, including journalists, as we rush around trying to reach out to candidates, track the issues and report on the results.

Having said all of that, this election cycle has taken its toll on me, more than usual.

Much of that is the fact the City of Weirton municipal election is being held at the same time. Up until this year, most of our local municipal elections have been held in off years. Several stagger their terms, with an election held every two years.

I don’t know how that all came to be. Perhaps it was just the timing of when those cities were chartered, but that’s how it was until 2019 when Weirton voters approved a series of charter amendments. One of those adjusted the city’s election schedule to run along the presidential election cycle. Officials touted the idea as a way to cut costs and increase voter turnout.

I understand the thought process behind it. When only around 1,700 people cast a vote for mayor in the 2019 general election for a city with around 19,000 people according to the 2020 census, it can be disheartening. It also could just have been a result of the quality and number of candidates.

The highest turnout for a single ward that year was around 500. Another ward received only 84 votes.

Personally, though, it’s been a pain. Trying to follow four or five campaigns or levies on a county level can be difficult enough for one person, especially when you have expedited deadlines. Throwing eight other races from a city on top of all that…it will be a miracle if I’m able to function the next day.

It’s part of the job, though, and I’ll deal with it.

Until then, we’ll just have to wait and see how many people decide to vote in this election, and if the adjustments make a difference in Weirton.

(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/X @ChowellWDT)