Putnam County voters need not wait until Primary Election Day, May 14, to exercise their civic duty of selecting candidates for the November General Election. There are nine days available between May 2nd and May 11th on which registered voters may mark their ballots. Early voting will take place at both the Courthouse in Winfield and at the Valley Park Conference Center in Hurricane. The ballots will not be counted until polls close at 7:30 p.m. on the 14th.

The Primary, in addition to picking political party candidates, serves as the venue for electing Magistrates, Judges, and members to the Board of Education. County voters will also have the opportunity to approve or reject a special levy to provide funding for Fire/Rescue Service; and, a levy to provide funding to the Board of Education to maintain its current services. Putnam voters residing within Nitro city limits will approve or reject a levy used to fund city services.

County Clerk Brian Wood expects very short waiting lines or none because interest in the Primary is far less than interest in the General. Wood reported that 22.75% of 2022 Primary voters chose the early voting option, while 42.56% of 2022 General Election total consisted of early voters. The percentage turnout for the last presidential year election (2020) was 71.5% for the General and in the 35% to 40% range for the Primary. Wood said the slowest days for early voting are typically Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday (May 6-8). Early voting is heaviest in the morning of the first day and in the last days prior to election day.

The early voting schedule is Thursday, May 2, 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.; Friday, May 3, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.; Saturday, May 4, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.; Monday, May 6, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.; Tuesday, May 7, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.; Wednesday, May 8, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.; Thursday, May 9, 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.; Friday, May 10, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.; and Saturday, May 11, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.