In some parts of West Virginia, it may soon be easier to cast early votes in future elections. That's because each county can now consider offering "satellite" early voting.

Right now, Jackson County is the only county which is about to implement it. That's because of a requirement it would have to be implemented for the entire 20-day early voting period.

It would allow counties to set up an early voting site at a separate location, other than the county seat, to make early voting more accessible for people living in outlying areas.

Jackson County, for instance, is about to establish a location at Ravenswood, for people in the northern part of the county.

Wood County officials considered it...but believe it should be for a shorter period of time.

"If we could set up a precinct for, say, three to five days, in an location and have the voting in that time frame, they were all for it," recalls Deputy County Clerk Mark Rhodes. "They did not feel it would be cost-effective in the off-year election, where it's going to be a smaller turnout."

Rhodes says the secretary of state's office had proposed satellite locations for short periods of time as well.

But a legal ruling determined any early voting location had to be for the whole period which preceedes primary or election day.

He does hope that the legislature can eventually modify the existing law to allow more flexibility in the voting period.