CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Kanawha County Commission will convene for a special meeting Wednesday to fix a voter precinct error that affected a significant number of voters during the May primary.
Commissioner Dave Hardy estimated that the incorrect markings of the border between the 35th and 36th delegate district and a Senate district issue in the Malden area impacted 600 to 800 voters.
“One thing that’s very important is that the public have confidence in our voting precincts and our voting count and our voting machines,” Hardy said. “We have left no stone unturned to solve this issue regarding the census data and our precinct lines.”
The commission had been working with County Clerk Vera McCormick for about two months since they’d been made aware of the problem. Despite the voters voting in and candidates campaigning in the wrong district, Hardy said the right lines had to be put in place for the November election.
“Two wrongs don’t make a right. We have a duty to always try to comply with the law, and when we find a mistake, and this was an honest mistake. This wasn’t anything nefarious,” he said. “The candidates were disappointed some of them, if they campaigned in the wrong area, but at least we’ve got it right for the general election.”
Wednesday’s 5 p.m. public hearing on precincts is the only item on the commission’s special meeting agenda.