Voting in West Virginia

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The policies governing voter participation are enacted and enforced primarily at the state level. These policies, which include voter identification requirements, early voting provisions, online voter registration systems, and more, dictate the conditions under which people cast their ballots in their respective states.

This article includes the following information about voting policies in West Virginia:

Click here for more information about election administration in the state, including voter list maintenance policies, provisional ballot rules, post-election auditing practices, and additional election policy context.

For information on elections happening this year, click here.

Do you have questions about your elections? Looking for information about your local election official? Click here to use U.S. Vote Foundation’s election official lookup tool.

Voter registration

Eligibility and registration details

Check your voter registration status here.

To vote in West Virginia, one must be a citizen of the United States, a resident of West Virginia, and at least 18 years of age.[1]

The registration deadline is 21 days prior to an election. One may register to vote by submitting a form by mail to his or her county clerk's office or the Secretary of State's Office. Registration can be completed in person at the county clerk's office, the Secretary of State's office, the Department of Motor Vehicles, any public assistance office, any agency that serves people with disabilities, any marriage license office, or any military recruiting agency.[1]


In-person voting

Poll times

See also: State poll opening and closing times

In West Virginia, all polling places are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time. A voter who is in line at the time polls close must still be permitted to vote.[2]

Voter identification

See also: Voter identification laws by state

West Virginia requires voters to present identification while voting. The identification provided must be issued either by the State of West Virginia, or one of its subsidiaries, or by the United States government. It must also contain the name of the voter.[3]

The following list of accepted ID was current as of October 2024. Click here for the West Virginia Secretary of State's page on accepted ID to ensure you have the most current information.

“
  • Acceptable Forms of Non-Photo Identification:
    • Voter registration card
    • Medicare card or Social Security card
    • Birth certificate
    • WV hunting or fishing license
    • WV SNAP ID card
    • WV TANF program ID card
    • WV Medicaid ID card
    • Bank or debit card
    • Utility bill or bank statement issued within six months of the date of the election
    • Health insurance card issued to the voter
    • Any document issued by the WV or US government that displays the voter's name
    • Any document issued by the state of WV or U.S. government containing voter's name, including a WV driver's license, passport, U.S. or WV government employee ID or military ID
  • Acceptable Forms of Photo Identification:
    • Driver's license issued by another state
    • Student ID card
    • A concealed carry (pistol/revolver) permit[4]
 ”

Additionally, a registered voter can bring an adult whom he or she has known for at least six months with them to the polling place. The adult can sign an affidavit stating that he or she knows the voter. The voter will then be allowed to vote. A voter can also be identified by a poll worker as long as he or she has known the voter for at least six months.[3]

Voters can obtain a free voter ID card at their county clerk’s office.[5]

Early voting

See also: Early voting

West Virginia permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.

Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.

As of February 2024, 47 states and the District of Columbia permitted no-excuse early voting.


Absentee/mail-in voting

See also: Absentee/mail-in voting

Voters in West Virginia are eligible to vote absentee in an election for any of the following reasons:[6]

  • “Injury or illness”
  • “Disability or 'extreme advanced age'”
  • “Incarceration or home detention (does not include individuals convicted of any felony, treason, or election bribery)”
  • “Work hours and distance from county seat”
  • “Inaccessible early voting site and polling place”
  • “Personal or business travel”
  • “Attendance at college or other place of education or training”
  • “Temporary residence outside of the county”
  • “Service as an elected or appointed state or federal official”

To vote absentee, a request must be received by the county clerk no later than the sixth day prior to the election.[7]


Local election officials

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Do you need information about elections in your area? Are you looking for your local election official? Click here to visit the U.S. Vote Foundation and use their election official lookup tool.

Voting rules for people convicted of a felony

See also: Voting rights for people convicted of a felony

In West Virginia, people convicted of a felony, treason, or bribery in an election lose their franchise, regained only once they have completed their entire sentence, including incarceration and parole or probation.[8]

Voting rights for people convicted of a felony vary from state to state. In the majority of states, people convicted of a felony cannot vote while they are incarcerated but may regain the right to vote upon release from prison or at some point thereafter.[9]


Election administration agencies

Election agencies

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See also: State election agencies

Individuals seeking additional information about voting provisions in West Virginia can contact the following local, state, and federal agencies.

West Virginia County Clerks

Click here for a list

West Virginia Secretary of State, Elections Division

State Capitol Bldg.
Charleston, West Virginia 25305
Phone: 304-558-6000
Toll free: 866-767-8683
Fax: 304-558-0900
Email: elections@wvsos.gov
Website: http://www.sos.wv.gov/elections/pages/default.aspx

West Virginia Ethics Commission

210 Brooks Street, Suite 300
Charleston, West Virginia 25301
Phone: 304-558-0664
Toll free: 866-558-0664
Fax: 304-558-2169
Email: ethics@wv.gov
Website: http://www.ethics.wv.gov/Pages/default.aspx

U.S. Election Assistance Commission

633 3rd Street NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 301-563-3919
Toll free: 1-866-747-1471
Email: clearinghouse@eac.gov
Website: https://www.eac.gov


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See also

Elections in West Virginia


External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 West Virginia Secretary of State, "VElections Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)," accessed May 2, 2023
  2. ↑ West Virginia Secretary of State, "Elections Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)," accessed May 2, 2023
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 West Virginia State Legislature, "West Virginia Code, §3-1-34. Voting procedures generally; identification; assistance to voters; voting records; penalties." accessed May 2, 2023 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "wvvid" defined multiple times with different content
  4. ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  5. ↑ West Virginia Secretary of State, "Be Registered and Ready" accessed May 2, 2023
  6. ↑ West Virginia Secretary of State, “Eligibility for Absentee Voting In West Virginia,” accessed October 7, 2024
  7. ↑ West Virginia Secretary of State, “Absentee Voting Information,” accessed October 7, 2024
  8. ↑ Secretary of State Mac Warner, "YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE IN WEST VIRGINIA ONCE YOU COMPLETE YOUR SENTENCE," accessed May 2, 2023
  9. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Felon Voting Rights," April 6, 2023
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