The clock is ticking and the countdown for the 2020 General Election has begun.  Voters will choose candidates from the Courthouse to the Statehouse to the White House in the coming weeks.  Voters have the option to vote absentee, early vote in person at the Courthouse or vote at their respective precincts on Nov. 3.  
 Early in person voting gaot underway Wednesday, Oct. 21 and will continue through Sat., Oct. 31.  Hancock County voters can cast their votes in person at the Hancock County Courthouse Monday thru Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  The Election Office will also be open for early voting on Saturday,  Oct. 24 and Saturday, Oct. 31, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
 Voters also have the option of requesting and voting an absentee ballot.  Applications for absentee may be obtained by calling the Hancock County Election Office at 304-564-3311, ext. * or by going to the Sec. of State website at GoVoteWV.com and printing out an applications.  Applications may be mailed or hand delivered to the Election Office.   Absentee ballots may be returned by mail   or hand delivered to the Election Office the day prior to the Nov. 3 election.  A person may deliver no more than two absentee ballots.  Voters may track their absentee ballot at GoVoteWV.com
 The COVID virus has resulted in many more  voters choosing to cast their ballots absentee.    As of Monday, Oct, 19, the Sec. of State’s website lists 2,338 absentee ballots requested in Hancock County with 1,501  ballots  returned to the Election Office..  Hancock County currently has 24,053 registered voters.  Voter affiliation is as follows:  Democrat - 10,105. Republican - 8,243, No Party Listed - 5,091, Mountain - 28,  Liberterian - 156.  On a Statewide basis 138,073 applications have been requested with 91,128 ballots being returned.  West Virginia has 1,268,460 registered voters.
 Polls will open at 6:30 a.m. on Election Day - Nov. 3  Voters having any question as to where their Precinct is located can visit the website at GoVoteWV.com.