WHEELING — Today is Election Day 2024, and while many voters will go to the polls today, more than 20,000 ballots already have been cast early throughout the Northern Panhandle.

Numbers show Republican voters outnumbering Democrats so far at the ballot box.

Polls open at 6:30 a.m. today in both West Virginia and Ohio, and close at 7:30 p.m. Voters in line at the close of polls should stay in line as they will be permitted to vote, West Virginia Secretary of State Mac Warner noted.

Ten days of early voting in West Virginia concluded Saturday with counties reporting early voting turnout much higher than for recent presidential elections.

Warner released information stating that as of Saturday evening, a total of 332,081 West Virginia voters had already cast a ballot statewide. Early in-person voters accounted for 310,421 of the ballots cast, while another 21,660 voters participated by absentee ballot.

Statewide, the number of Republicans casting early ballots in West Virginia has outnumbered Democrats voting early in the election, according to the secretary of state’s numbers. These show 153,444 Republicans voted so far, and 91,978 Democrats. There were another 60,196 with no party affiliation who voted early.

In Ohio County, there were 5,883 votes cast during the early voting period. There are 28,006 registered voters in the county. There were 2,480 Republicans who cast ballots and 2,009 Democrats.

“It was obviously a record in Ohio County, as well as across the nation,” said Ohio County Administrator Randy Russell. “We’re looking for a big turnout (today).”

The large turnout really isn’t all that surprising, he added.

“Historically, we haven’t had that many (early votes),” Russell said. “But there’s a lot of interest in the presidential election this year.”

Erin Witchey, coordinator of elections in Ohio County, said she also believed there will be a good turnout.

“I couldn’t be happier with how early voting went,” she continued. “We had no issues, and it couldn’t have gone smoother. I’m elated to see people coming to the polls.

“Hopefully, they come in (today) and that trend continues.”

∫ In Marshall County, there were 4,684 ballots submitted. The county has 20,530 registered voters.

There were 2,153 Republicans casting ballots in the county and 1,488 Democrats.

∫ Hancock County saw 3,636 early votes among 18,870 registered voters.

Among Republicans, 1,696 ballots were cast. Democrats submitted 1,152.

∫ Brooke County reported 2,963 voting early, and there are 15,030 registered to vote there.

Republicans accounted for 1,246 ballots cast and Democrats 1,075.

∫ The total number of early votes in Wetzel County was 1,803, and 10,041 residents are registered to vote there.

There were 769 Republican ballots cast and 635 Democrat.

∫ Tyler County recorded 1,138 early voters among 5,705 registered voters.

Republicans there cast 713 ballots; and Democrats, 191.