The new system of Internet voting is part of a state-funded project designed to let overseas voters participate in their home county's election more easily, according to a memorandum from Secretary of State Natalie Tennant.

"This is a comprehensive plan to make sure our service men and women and people overseas can exercise their rights as Americans," Tennant said in the memo.

Participating voters will be given a security code and a link to Tennant's website, where they enter the code and fill out a ballot. The ballots are then submitted electronically to the voter's county.

"This would be the only form of Internet voting I would support," Putnam County Clerk Brian Wood said at Tuesday's meeting.

Wood later acknowledged that online voting comes with risks, but said he supports the use of Internet ballots for military personnel.

"If anyone has a right to vote it should be those fighting for our freedoms to vote," he said.

The state has provided money for counties to pay for the online voting system on a first-come, first-served basis, Wood said.

He expects the Internet voting to cost about $5,000 for the special Aug. 28 primary to fill the rest of the late Sen. Robert C. Byrd's term and about $7,500 for the general election of Nov. 2.

The last day to register to vote in the primary is Aug. 6. Early voting starts Aug. 20 and runs through Aug. 25, except for Aug. 22.

Early voting for the Nov. 2 general election starts Oct. 13 and runs through Oct. 30. Election day is November 2.

Also Tuesday, Commissioner Joe Haynes said repairs to the Winfield Bridge will be completed ahead of schedule.

Haynes met recently with state Division of Highways officials, who said the bridge will be reopened on Aug. 13, a week earlier than planned. A ceremony is planned at the bridge on Aug. 13.

Reach Zac Taylor at zachary.tay...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-5189.