Associated Press Published

34,000 Vote Early in West Virginia Primary

Voting

  About 34,000 West Virginians have voted early ahead of Tuesday’s primary.

The figure released by the Secretary of State’s office Friday reflects in-person and absentee ballots cast. The early voting period opened April 30 and ends Saturday.

The light turnout could reflect a relatively small number of contested races. The lone statewide race involves the U.S. Senate, where three candidates each are running in the Democratic and Republican primaries.

Seven candidates are seeking the Republican nomination in a bid to succeed 2nd District GOP Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito, who is running for the Senate seat being vacated by the retiring Jay Rockefeller.

Fewer than half of the 67 House of Delegates districts and only four of 17 Senate seats up for election have contested races next week.