POINT PLEASANT — Voting might soon be even easier in Mason County.

According to Diana Cromley, county clerk, the West Virginia County Clerks Association is working to promote the implementation of satellite precincts during the early voting period, which would allow voters for whom it is not convenient to vote early at the courthouse to cast their vote at other designated locations in their county.

Cromley, who also serves as vice president of the county clerks association, said early voting has grown in popularity since its implementation in 2002. Of the 10,793 local residents that cast a ballot in last year’s general election, she said 2,775 of them voted early at the courthouse. Similar turnouts were reported throughout the state.

“This is why we have made this legislative issue of designating one or more early voting sites within our counties a priority,” Cromley said. “We see it as a very citizen-friendly initiative.”

The legislation is intended to be permissive so that it would be implemented only at each individual county’s option and with agreement between the county clerk and county commission of that county.

According to a news release, the county clerks association is working with members of Senate and House Judiciary committees as well as the Office of the Secretary of State to craft a bill that would make early voting more accessible and convenient without becoming an unfunded mandate. Patti Hamilton, executive director of the West Virginia Association of Counties, said the legislation will address the need for legislative rules from the Office of the Secretary of State to develop such details as criteria for satellite precinct locations and security of voting equipment. Factors such as population centers and geographic location within a county also could be considered.

House Bill 2464 and Senate Bill 314 have been introduced to accomplish the option of early voting satellite precincts. The bill is in a House Judiciary Subcommittee on Elections chaired by Del. Barbara Fleischauer and has passed out of Senate government organization and now is pending before Senate Judiciary.

Also during Thursday’s meeting, commissioners:

• Approved the use of the Point Pleasant branch of the library for an upcoming Right to Life event.

• Approved the hiring of Dustin Pearson as a deputy with the sheriff’s department.

• Approved the appointment of Keith Shinn to the Solid Waste Authority to replace Chuck Lanier.

• Accepted Bill Stricklen’s resignation from the building commission.

• Adjourned at 4:25 p.m.

The next meeting will be 4 p.m. Thursday, March 26.