T-L Photo/ROBERT A. DEFRANK Belmont County Board of Elections Director Kelly McCabe and Deputy Director Aaron Moore set meeting dates for this year.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — The ballot is ready for the upcoming primary election on March 17 in Belmont County.

The Belmont County Board of Elections reviewed its progress Tuesday, and set meeting dates for 2020 at its office on U.S. 40 east of the city.

“We have proofs. I have to have a ballot by (Jan. 31) because that’s … the deadline for a (overseas or military, in-country or out-of-country) ballot,” Director Kelly McCabe said. “It’s medium-sized.”

Among the contested races are the U.S. representative to Congress, 6th District, state senator for the 30th District, state representatives for the 95th and 96th Districts, and Belmont County offices including coroner, recorder, auditor and a commissioner.

“It’s front-and-back, an 8.5-by-14 (inch) piece of paper. It’s got two stubs. It’s not the biggest ballot that we’ve ever had, but it’s not small,” she said.

In terms of projected voter turnout, McCabe said there has not yet been a high demand for absentee ballots.

“They can start requesting them now,” she said. “Feb. 19, that’s when we can start mailing the ballots and that’s when they can start voting. … The deadline to get them to us is the Saturday before the election if they want their ballot mailed to them. Please do not wait that long because the mail is very slow.”

The election board is also on-track to install security upgrades required by the Ohio Secretary of State’s office. McCabe said the mandatory deadline is Jan. 31.

“We are 98 percent complete in meeting the security deadline,” she said, adding the board would notify the state once upgrades are finished.

The state has been assisting local boards of elections in this process.

“It’s been a challenge because it’s in the middle of trying to get ready for a presidential primary election. There’s a lot involved and we’re meeting the deadline, but one piece of the puzzle, we’re waiting from the state, and we have no control over that,” she said.

This past November, the board held its first election at the new site on National Road east of St. Clairsville, in a building formerly owned by The Health Plan and renovated for county offices.

Along with preparing equipment and ballots and finalizing security, the board is also looking for personnel for Election Day.

“We need poll workers,” McCabe said. “We’re starting to train in a few weeks.”

The next meeting will be held Feb. 19 at the office 52180 National Road.