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ST. CLAIRSVILLE -- The countdown to Election Day on Nov. 7 is underway, and security upgrades are on the horizon next year.
On Monday, Belmont County Elections Director Aaron Moore reported to the board of elections that there has been a brisk turnout for early voting, with many people either requesting absentee ballots or visiting the board office to cast votes.
"We've been very busy getting mail for the absentee applications, but everything's going on. We've got about 1,000 mail-outs. In-office we are close to about 350," he said.
Board members noted that at least one staff member will be on hand through early voting to assist members of the public with the machines.
Plans are also moving forward for the presidential primary in 2024. The board has received a security directive from the state and $10,000 for use in upgrading systems.
Moore said three cameras will be replaced, adding that the firewall and some computer servers were near their five-year end of life.
"We're just trying to upgrade them so that all of our equipment is all from the same manufacturers," he said, referring to the two cameras that are Honeywell brand and made in Japan. "We're also trying to get everything compliant with specific types of federal requirements cameras need to be at."
Moore will seek quotes. He expects upgrades to begin in 2024, after the upcoming general election.
"When it comes to the type of equipment and models, we try not to be overly open with that, just because of security purposes. It is just upgrades to some of our firewalls, and by next year some of our computers will need to be upgraded," he said.
Moore will also look into the purchase of a postage meter to potentially save money on buying stamps in bulk. The board is also exploring the purchase of a public address system.
On the issue of poll workers, Moore reported 339 poll workers have signed up, with a minimum of 280 needed.
"We are going through the process this week of actually training them. Numbers can fluctuate as far as who shows up for work and who wants to work after training," he said. "We always are looking for alternates and backup workers. We're always willing to train people in case we do have call-offs and we need extra work."
He said next year, the board will explore an optional, lighter "refresher" training class for veteran poll workers, while newcomers will train the full three hours.
"We have the basic returning poll workers coming back. We have had a nice interest of new people calling and signing up, but we always need more," he said.
He noted electronic poll books will be issued to every polling location.
"In the past, we only issued them out to multi-precinct polling locations," he said.
Deputy Director Kamron Chervenak said elections staff are also reaching out to the area's nursing homes.
"We ask the activities director who would like to vote in the nursing home. We work alongside them in scheduling. We send a bipartisan team out to the various nursing homes that sign up for this throughout the county and help assist the voters that are residents within that nursing home. That way they get the opportunity to vote in there as well," she said.
Board member Frankie Lee Carnes inquired about the process of pulling the ballots of nursing home residents who have passed away. Chervenak further elaborated after the meeting.
"We receive every month a list of deceased voters from the (county) health department and from the state. We receive two different lists, so that's how we go through and maintain our records. People are also able to provide us with things such as a death certificate for us to keep our records updated," she said.
Chervenak said election officials are confident in preparations for the 2024 primary.
"Even though we're just a few weeks away from this general election in November, we've already began our preparations as far as the primary election that's coming in March. We've already received applications for that," she said. "We know it's on the horizon, and we will execute a safe and bipartisan election when that time comes."
Early voting hours at the board office are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays through Oct. 27. Hours will be 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 30, 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 31, 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 1-3, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 4 and 1-5 p.m. Nov. 6.
The board office is at 52180 National Rd. East, St. Clairsville. The phone number is 740-526-0188.