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ELKINS -- Safety precautions at the polling places during the Nov. 3 general election was discussed during the Randolph County Commission's Thursday meeting at the James Cain Courthouse Annex.
During the meeting's public comment section, Elkins resident Priscilla Gay said, "My appearance today comes out of a September meeting that the Randolph County Democratic Women had where (county clerk) Brenda Wiseman was our guest speaker and the topic was elections/ There were a number of questions asked and one question and answer gave us cause, wondering about the safety of the upcoming election. Brenda explained to us that every poll worker is given a mask for the election. She is communicating with the poll workers regarding the masks and the importance of masks.
"But as we think about this, poll workers are the minority number of people in the precinct on that day. So we know several facts, we know that there's a mask mandate by executive order indoors if you can not be six feet away from each other. We know that part of the process can not be accomplished without getting closer than six feet. We know we are voting during a pandemic. We know that masks are deterrents. We know that right now at this time Randolph County cases are increasing.
"We know that on Nov. 3, 2020 there are going to be thousands of individuals interacting in a space possibly larger than this room, but a lot of them smaller than this ," Gay said W"e feel that we had a safe primary election, but the numbers are going to increase on Nov. 3. So what we are here to ask is that would the County Commission consider a public reminder to people that for that very short time, in order to protect your family, your neighbor, your friends, that we are encouraging everybody to wear a mask.
Wiseman assured Gay and the commission that every step was being put in place to make sure the upcoming election is as safe as possible.
"We are on the same page," Wiseman said. "We want everyone to be safe and we're doing everything we can to make sure everyone is safe. We're sending a letter out to the poll workers strongly encouraging them to wear masks as much as possible all day long. They're going to be there for 13 hours, so they're going to have to eat and drink during that time. But when no voters are there, they can take their mask down and try to stay apart as much as possible.
"I'm going to make signs up to put on the outside of the polling place doors asking people that are coming in to vote to please wear a mask. We're going to put out hand sanitizer, lysol wipes and gloves for anyone who wants to put gloves on."
Wiseman said that in 2016 the county had 11,000 people vote in person, but with the absentee ballot being an option for voters, that number may be down in 2020.
"Anyone who is really, really concerned and afraid to go out, should do the absentee ballot," Wiseman said.
Dr. Mary Boyd, medical director at the Randolph County-Elkins Health Department, also hopes that everyone will be extra careful when out in public.
"The purpose of a face mask is to prevent the mask wearer from passing the virus to others," Boyd wrote in a speech she had prepared for the meeting. She was unable to attend but provided her comments to The Inter-Mountain. "Anyone who cares about others in our community will wear a mask. Not wearing a mask is a sign that you do not care about others. We are currently doing well as a community against this deadly virus, but we cannot let our guard down because this is not over. The face mask is the one very effective prevention measure we can all do rather easily."
Brenda Wiseman reported that her office has received 746 of the 1,475 absentee ballots that were sent out.
"We've received about half back of what we mailed out," said Wiseman. "Oct. 28 is the deadline to request an absentee ballot so there's still plenty of time to get one if you don't want to go out and vote in person. And Oct. 13 is the deadline to make any changes on your voter registration card, like if you moved or you just got a new 911 address."
Ware said early voting in Randolph County will start on Oct. 21 and end on Oct. 31.
"Early voting is going to be held at the Wees Annex in the Health Department Building and also at the Russell Memorial Public Library in Mill Creek," she said. "We're going to open 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and then on the two Saturdays it's from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
"Of course election day is Nov. 3, all precincts will be open as normal. They open at 6:30 in the morning and close at 7:30 in the evening."
Wiseman said anyone who wants an absentee ballot can get one by calling her office to request the proper paperwork. Or they can go to govotewv.com to download an application.
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Madalyn Humphrey from Elkins Mainstreet announced during the public comment section of Thursday's meeting that her organization is moving from its downtown location on Davis Avenue to the West Virginia Wood Tech Center in the Industrial Park.
"This is going to allow Elkins Mainstreet the opportunity to collaborate more closely with the development authority, with the chamber, with tourism, the United Way and so many more no profit organizations that use that facility," she said.
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Also during Thursday's meeting, the commission announced that brand new voting machines had arrived and will be ready for the election following the one on Nov. 3.
"The new ones won't be used in this upcoming election," Commissioner Mark Scott. "We got a grant from the state for over $300,000 for machines and they've already arrived. So the next election we will have brand new machines."
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The commission approved a request from the Rich Mountain Battlefield Foundation to help with funds for security upgrades. The commission voted to give the organization $519.99 to help with the purchase of cameras and other security items.
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The commision approved a funding request of $5,000 for the Norton-Harding-Jimtown PSD to help with the purchase of new equipment.