Cabell County Commission adopts emergency absentee policy, accepts $303,580 HAVA grant and reinstates early voting at Marshall University

The Cabell County Commission on Sept. 10 approved multiple measures aimed at supporting voter access for the 2020 General Election, including an emergency absentee voting policy, acceptance of a federal HAVA grant to purchase electronic poll books, and reinstatement of an early voting location at Marshall University. The measures passed unanimously.

Jim Morgan moved to adopt a resolution establishing an Emergency Absentee Voting Policy that allows the county clerk to provide emergency absentee ballots to voters who are confined to hospitals or other duly licensed health-care facilities within Cabell County; Kelli Sobonya seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous. The policy, as described at the meeting, limits emergency absentee ballots to residents confined inside the county at qualifying facilities.

The commission also voted unanimously to authorize the president to accept a HAVA Grant Board award of $303,580.00 to purchase electronic polling books. Jim Morgan moved the resolution to accept the grant; Kelli Sobonya seconded and the motion carried unanimously.

Separately, the commission authorized reinstating an early voting location at Marshall University. The motion to reinstate the Marshall University early voting site was approved without recorded opposition.

Why it matters: The measures address access and administration for the Nov. 2020 election in Cabell County. The emergency absentee policy sets a specific, county-limited process for voters who cannot leave medical facilities; the HAVA grant funds equipment intended to modernize check-in at polling sites; and the Marshall University site expands a location for early voters. The commission recorded no dissent at the meeting.

What’s next: The resolutions were approved at the Sept. 10 meeting; implementation steps — including procurement and operational details for electronic poll books and the early-voting site schedule — were not specified in the meeting transcript and will be handled by county election staff and the county clerk.