NewsChannel 5.com - Nashville, Tennessee - Early votes on W.Va. table games already top 1,300

Early votes on W.Va. table games already top 1,300

CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. (AP) - More than 1,300 people have already voted on whether to let the Charles Town Races&Slots put table games in its casino.

Early voting in Jefferson County began Nov. 13 and continues through Dec. 2.

Wendy Evangelisti, an assistant clerk for elections, says 1,376 votes had been cast at the county courthouse by noon Friday.

There are about 33,000 registered voters in all.

John Finamore of Pennsylvania-based Penn National Gaming Inc. says the turnout so far is a good sign, but turnout Dec. 5 is critical. He says supporters of the measure can't take anything for granted.

Two years ago, when the same measure failed, only 1,200 early votes were cast.

Charles Town is the only one of four West Virginia racetrack casinos without table games.

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