CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Early voter turnout was so heavy for some Kanawha County voting precincts that election officials brought out extra ballots.

County Clerk Vera McCormick said county election officials usually reserve about 80 percent of their ballots for use in the individual voting precincts on Election Day. They hold back 20 percent of the ballots at the voters' registration office for early voters, and keep another batch on hold for emergencies.

But early voter turnout for Tuesday's general election was so heavy in some precincts that McCormick started to wonder if she might need extra ballots.

"I wanted to make sure I had enough," McCormick said Friday. "I wanted to stay one step ahead."

More than 14,000 people had cast early ballots as of Friday afternoon, more than 10 percent of the county's 133,400 registered voters. "That's a record for Kanawha County," McCormick said.

Early voter turnout for about 20 county precincts started to climb toward 20 percent of voters registered, raising the chance that poll workers would run short of ballots in those precincts.

As a precaution, McCormick moved an extra 20 percent of ballots from precinct storage to the Voter Registration Office for early voting in those precincts. She said most of the heavy turnout precincts are in the city of Charleston.

Early voting continues today from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Voter Registration Office at the corner of Quarrier and Court streets. County election officials are urging voters to cast their ballots early to avoid long lines on Election Day. Today is the last day for early voting.

Election officials expect a heavy turnout on Tuesday. Lines for early voting frequently extended out the door and down the street at the Voter Registration Office Thursday and Friday.

Early voting in Kanawha County could approach the 20 percent mark countywide by the time early voting ends today.

Reach Rusty Marks at rustyma...@wvgazette.com">rustyma...@wvgazette.com or 348-1215.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Early voter turnout was so heavy for some Kanawha County voting precincts that election officials brought out extra ballots.

County Clerk Vera McCormick said county election officials usually reserve about 80 percent of their ballots for use in the individual voting precincts on Election Day. They hold back 20 percent of the ballots at the voters' registration office for early voters, and keep another batch on hold for emergencies.

But early voter turnout for Tuesday's general election was so heavy in some precincts that McCormick started to wonder if she might need extra ballots.

"I wanted to make sure I had enough," McCormick said Friday. "I wanted to stay one step ahead."

More than 14,000 people had cast early ballots as of Friday afternoon, more than 10 percent of the county's 133,400 registered voters. "That's a record for Kanawha County," McCormick said.

Early voter turnout for about 20 county precincts started to climb toward 20 percent of voters registered, raising the chance that poll workers would run short of ballots in those precincts.

As a precaution, McCormick moved an extra 20 percent of ballots from precinct storage to the Voter Registration Office for early voting in those precincts. She said most of the heavy turnout precincts are in the city of Charleston.

Early voting continues today from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Voter Registration Office at the corner of Quarrier and Court streets. County election officials are urging voters to cast their ballots early to avoid long lines on Election Day. Today is the last day for early voting.

Election officials expect a heavy turnout on Tuesday. Lines for early voting frequently extended out the door and down the street at the Voter Registration Office Thursday and Friday.

Early voting in Kanawha County could approach the 20 percent mark countywide by the time early voting ends today.

Reach Rusty Marks at rustyma...@wvgazette.com">rustyma...@wvgazette.com or 348-1215.