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Wood County maintenance worker Erik Moles, left, carries voting supplies to a poll worker's car as fellow maintenance worker Wyatt Marshall loads another vehicle Monday afternoon, in preparation for today's primary election. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

PARKERSBURG – Voters in West Virginia will head to the polls today to decide who will face off in the general election in November.

Wood County Clerk Joe Gonzales said polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. for the county’s 71 precincts.

There are 145 races that appear somewhere in the county, based on voting precincts, city council districts, commission and school board districts, and more, officials said.

If people don’t know where their precinct is, they can call the clerk’s office at 304-424-1860 and county personnel will direct them to where they need to go.

Gonzales said people need to bring a photo ID to show when they vote which can include driver’s license, state identification card or a passport with a photo.

“It has to have a form of ID with a photo on it,” Gonzales said.

The county needs 307 poll workers to do the election. As of Monday morning, they had 302 in place.

“We have had a number who have called off over the past week,” Gonzales said. “We are trying to fill those with alternates (Monday) and hopefully they will be ready to go (today).”

Wood County has 55,481 registered voters. Of those, 26,401 are Republican, 12,175 are Democrat and 16,905 are non-partisan. Voters are reminded that only registered Republican voters can vote in the GOP primary this year.

After polls close at 7:30 p.m., results will be brought to the Wood County Courthouse to be counted and have an unofficial total determined.

Some people may have to vote a challenge ballot if there is a question of whether they are in the right precinct or other issues.

The Wood County Commission will meet Monday, May 18, as the canvassing board to go over and determine which challenged ballots will be accepted and added to the official totals.

Contact Brett Dunlap at bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com