KEYSER — The Mineral County Board of Education Levy Election is slated to go on as scheduled Saturday, despite the forecast of a possible 16-24 inches of snow Friday and Saturday.
Should weather conditions deteriorate to the point where Gov. Joe Manchin declares a state of emergency in West Virginia, however, the polls could close early.
Both Mineral County Clerk Lauren Ellifritz and Superintendent of Schools Skip Hackworth have been in contact with the West Virginia Secretary of State's office in Charleston in regard to the levy election ever since weather forecasters began predicting a massive winter storm for the weekend.
“There is no provision in the state code for the cancelation of an election,” Hackworth said Tuesday evening during the regular board of education meeting.
He noted, however, that both Mercer and Monroe counties held levy elections during the snowstorm last Saturday.
“And they had real snow, not just a fluffy five inches like we had,” he said.
“Whatever happens, we'll have our men ready to go out and do some plowing at the polling places,” he said.
According to Ellifritz, however, things could change if the Governor declares a state of emergency.
“If he declares it before the polls are open, there's a possibility we would have to reschedule,” she said, noting that a state of emergency bans unauthorized vehicles from being on the highways.
“If he declares it after the polls open,” she added, “we may have to close the polls early.”
Ellifritz also noted that “only the Circuit Court Judge can declare a general emergency,” but there are “certain rules and procedures to ensure that voters have an equal opportunity to cast their votes.”
Ellifritz says she worries about the safety of her poll workers, as well.
“I have 160 poll workers in 32 polling places all over the county,” she said.
Polls are currently scheduled to be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
The levy election is for the continuation of a five-year levy which has been in existence in the county since 1952. The almost $6 million raised through the levy is used for the purchase of textbooks and supplies, technology updates for students, salaries and benefits for coaches and advisors, and other needs which help ensure the continuation of quality education in Mineral County.
