CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY) — Early voting opens up for West Virginia residents this week ahead of the upcoming Primary Election which has led Secretary of State Mac Warner to take a trip across the state to emphasize the importance of getting your vote in early.

“I’ve probably been in half of the counties around the state in just the last few weeks,” Warner said during a visit to the 12 News station.

While making these visits, Warner has stopped by many different courthouses to ensure that county clerks across the state have performed the early accuracy testing required before early voting begins. According to Warner, that testing has been done and made public.

Warner said that he’s also visited about 10 schools in the past three to four days to speak with students there about the importance of early voting.

“It’s just important to get out and encourage people to get out and vote. Exercise that right that people have fought and died for, we shouldn’t take it for granted,” Warner said.

Warner also said that one benefit of participating in early voting is ensuring that your vote is in on time and accounted for. Another perceived benefit he mentioned is that getting your vote in early can reduce lines on Election Day for both yourself and others.

To help answer questions that people may have related to the elections, Warner set up a website at govotewv.com. “In this election in particular, you wanna look at your ballot ahead of time,” Warner said. “There are a lot of different issues and…candidates on that ballot.”

By entering your name and address on the website, you can view your specific ballot used while voting. Warner said that not everybody in Harrison County will receive the same ballot due to different initiatives and candidates, which can vary based on which precinct or district you live in.

“So, it’s very important to look at that ballot ahead of time so when you go in to vote, you know who the candidates are, you know what the issues are,” said Warner.

Warner said that now that early voting is upon us, it’s time for everyone to put those voter registration cards to use. “Let’s exercise that vote,” he stated. “The more people that participate in the elections, then the more confidence we have in the officials that we elect.”

Warner said that there’s no additional registration required to participate in early voting and that you must simply go to a voting location with your Voter ID. “It’s very easy to do, and it’s typically the hours of the courthouse,” he added.

The deadline to register for the 2024 Primary Election in West Virginia was April 23. For those that got registered on time, early voting opens on Wednesday, May 1 and runs until May 11 with the Primary Election taking place on May 14.