While Upshur County has been making preparations and bracing for a record turnout on Election Day, early voters will have the added bonus of possibly facing shorter lines than on Nov. 4, said County Clerk Peggy LaGrone.

“Early voting is very popular, as it is a convenience for the voters,” she said.

No matter where you live in Upshur County, you can vote at any of the early voting locations.

The last two days of early voting, Oct. 30 and 31, are expected to attract the biggest crowds.

Early voting started Monday. Registered voters can head to three early voting locations around Upshur County to cast their ballots.

Voters who choose to wait until Tuesday, Nov. 4, will have to go to the polling location associated with their address in order to vote.

“Please keep in mind that many voters will need to go to a different polling location than they did for the March Primary,” Ms. LaGrone said, “so vote early or make sure you know the location of your polling place.”

Both early and Election Day voters get the option of voting with a paper ballot or on an electronic voting machine.

Upshur County purchased electronic voting machines after new federal election laws were passed following the 2000 election. The eSlate voting machines feature a click wheel that makes it easy for voters to progress through their ballots. They also allow disabled voters to cast ballots without help from a friend or election worker.

At the top of the ballot, voters get the chance to check a box next to one of three political parties—Republican, Democrat or Libertarian—automatically marking their choice in every race where that party is fielding a candidate.

Voters can also opt to go through each individual race and mark their selections.

But going with the straight-ticket option may not cover the entire ballot. Many voters will want to vote on local propositions and school boards. These are nonpartisan and at the bottom of the ballot.

Your voter registration card is all you need to vote.

If you’ve lost it, other identification that will be accepted includes a state-issued drivers licence or personal identification card, birth certificate, passport, U.S. citizenship papers, or a copy of a current utility bill, pay check or bank statement that shows the address of the voter.

Election workers will also accept an employee identification card if it contains a photograph that establishes your identity.

You are alos allowed to take along any written materials you feel that you need to help you mark your ballot. But no matter how passionate you are about your candidate or your party, you cannot go into a polling place in Texas wearing any campaign paraphernalia. That includes shirts, hats, buttons and sandwich boards.

If you try to enter a polling place wearing anything like this, poll workers will require you to remove that item of clothing or somehow cover it up, Ms. LaGrone said.

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