FAIRMONT, W.Va. — U.S. Senator Joe Manchin cast an early ballot for the Nov. 8 election in Fairmont Tuesday while early voting efforts continued across the state.
Manchin wasted no time in addressing recent politically-related violent attacks in video remarks he made outside the J. Harper Meredith Building, Marion County’s early voting location.
“This violence we see in our society today, that’s not where you cure the problems that you disagree with in the political arena,” Manchin said referring to the recent attack on Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband. “This is where you do it, in the polling place.”
Manchin said every vote counts and represents an important voice.
“In elections, people support you, people that don’t support you and you go through the process and even people that run against you,” Manchin said. “Those are all people you’re still going to represent. The only thing that is personal is my country and my family.”
I just voted early! Voting is the bedrock of our democracy, and I hope you will get out and vote, too. Find your polling place at https://t.co/ZLSZM3uHjs. Early voting ends Saturday, and Election Day is next Tuesday, November 8. #Vote #Election2022 pic.twitter.com/fIPBsyFnt4
— Senator Joe Manchin (@Sen_JoeManchin) November 1, 2022
The senator defended his vote for the Inflation Reduction Act and said his decisions are never based in politics. Manchin said his decisions are based in helping West Virginia be a better place to work and raise a family.
“There should be a rational reason why I support something or don’t,” Manchin said. “You might disagree with it, but at least I want you to walk away and say,” I don’t agree with that, but at least I understand how he made that decision.”
Kanawha County machine testing
In Kanawha County, county commissioners and Secretary of State Mac Warner watched longtime Kanawha County Clerk Vera McCormick test some of the voting machines that will be used next Tuesday.
“Every ballot that goes in it keeps count so they can verify,” McCormick said.
Early voting remains available through Saturday. After that county clerks across the state will concentrate on getting their election day supplies to various polling places.
“We have 20 trucks that will be lined up (Monday morning). They will come in and pick up their machines,” McCormick said.
Kanawha County will have 165 electronic voting machines in 193 precincts.
MetroNews will provide live, continuous coverage of the election starting at 7:06 election night and results will be posted in real time on our website dev.wvmetronews.com.