By JOSELYN KING

For The Times Leader

WHEELING — The words “clean election” are taking on more meaning this time around in Ohio as voters cast ballots amid coronavirus fears.

When Buckeye State voters go to the polls on Tuesday, hand sanitizing dispensers will greet them outside the door and the areas they touch will be disinfected after they leave, according to local election directors. Ohio voters may cast ballots at their respective county boards of elections offices from 1-5 p.m. today, and in-person absentee voting also will take place from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. Monday at the offices.

Polls across Ohio will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Kelly McCabe, director of elections in Belmont County, said turnout so far is on par with that of the 2016 primary election. She said as of Friday afternoon, 918 people had voted in person at the board office and numerous other residents took ballots home to vote or requested they be mailed to their home.

There are just over 45,000 registered voters in Belmont County, including 10,627 Republicans and 8,721 Democrats.

Belmont County voters will see a three-way contested Republican primary for coroner on Tuesday between Troy Balgo, Amanda K. Fisher and Lee Theaker.

McCabe said every effort will be made to keep polling locations clean.

“Every polling location will have portable handwashing stations, and the poll workers all will have hand sanitizers for themselves,” she said. “They will have Clorox wipes for their tables, and Lysol spray when they need it.

“It’s your right to go vote,” she said. “We’re just here to make sure it happens.”

Harrison County will see contested GOP races for commissioner and prosecuting attorney. Commissioner Paul Coffland is being challenged by New Athens Mayor Joseph John Petro; and Prosecuting Attorney Thomas (Owen) Beetham by Lauren E. Knight.

“Everything is going smoothly,” said Ruby Foutz, Harrison County director of elections.

“We’ve hit the 500 ballot mark already, and there has been more people out to vote than I thought.”

Foutz said poll workers in the county will be wearing rubber gloves and disinfecting pencils used to mark ballots at the polls.

“We’re taking all the precautionary measures to disinfect and cleanse everything,” she said. “We’re well covered.”

Coronavirus concerns have forced a change in one precinct location in Monroe County and one in Belmont County. Voters who usually cast ballots at the Monroe County Achievement Center, 47011 State Route 26, Woodsfield, will now do so at the Brown Community Center, 100 Creamery St., Woodsfield. Likewise, Precinct 84 voters in Belmont County who normally vote at Country Club Retirement Center in Bellaire will cast their ballots at the Belmont County Engineer’s Garage, 65137 Giffen St., Neffs.

Most voters in local counties in Ohio cast paper ballots and don’t use touchscreen machines to vote.

Monroe County actually uses touchscreen machines. Mollie Landefeld, director of elections, said additional rubbing alcohol has been purchased to clean the machines after each use.

Monroe County voters will see a contested Democratic race for commissioner between William Bolon and Carl David Hayes.

Jefferson County sees contested Democratic races for commissioner and recorder. Candidates for commissioner are Edward Littlejohn and Robert Steve Vukelic, while Scott Renforth and Bob Stanko vie for the recorder’s spot.