West Virginia

West Virginia does not have an absentee/mail ballot curing process. We recommend that you track the status of your ballot using your state’s online tool before Election Day to make sure it has been received and accepted. For provisional ballots, the canvassing board will review the information associated with your provisional ballot and will determine whether your vote can be counted during the regular canvassing period, 5 days after the election. To check on the status of your provisional ballot, please use your state’s online tool. 

For information on federal campaign contributions, please visit Open Secrets.

For information on state campaign contributions, please visit your state's resource.

Information on local, state and federal candidates and ballot measures may be available here.

No drop boxes available. The voter may vote and return the ballot to the County Clerk in the appropriate envelopes as soon as possible (or by hand delivery at the Clerk’s office). 

Early Voting Starts: 13 days before Election Day 
Early Voting Ends: 3 days before Election Day

The County Clerk is responsible for early voting. The locations will be in the County Courthouse, annex or on the property of the courthouse. The regular period of early voting begins 13 days before the election and ends 3 days before the election. Voting is available during regular business hours and on any Saturday on or between the 13th and 3rd days before the election.

Contact your county clerk for more information on times and locations.

The next election dates can be found here https://www.vote411.org/west-virginia.

Contact your local Board of Elections for information about local elections.

The polling place will be open from 6:30 am to 7:30 pm.

WHO CAN REGISTER TO VOTE IN WEST VIRGINIA? 

To register to vote in West Virginia, you must be:  

• A resident of West Virginia and the county where you register 
• A U.S. citizen 
• At least 17 years old and will be 18 years old by the next General Election 
• Not currently under conviction for a felony, including probation or parole, or a court ruling of mental incompetence 

WHO CAN VOTE IN WEST VIRGINIA? 

You can vote in West Virginia elections if you: 

• Are a registered voter 
• Are at least 18 years old on or before election day 
• Have not been convicted of a felony, election-related crime, or treason without completing your sentence (including probation or parole) 

CAN I VOTE IN WEST VIRGINIA IF I HAVE A FELONY CONVICTION? 

In West Virginia, you lose your voting rights if you are convicted of a felony, an election offense, or treason. You can register to vote once you have completed your sentence, including probation, or parole. Pretrial detention and misdemeanor convictions that didn’t involve an election or voting do not restrict your voting rights.   

CAN I REGISTER AND VOTE IN WEST VIRGINIA IF I DON’T HAVE A TRADITIONAL ADDRESS? 

Yes. You do not need a permanent or traditional residence to register. You may describe a specific location that identifies your residence (such as an intersection, park, or shelter location) so that election officials can assign you to the correct precinct. You can also use a P.O. box, shelter, advocacy group, or another trusted mailing address to receive election mail. 

AM I REQUIRED TO SHOW ID TO REGISTER TO VOTE IN WEST VIRGINIA? 

Yes, in most cases. To register: 

• Online: You must have a West Virginia driver’s license or state ID and the last four digits of your Social Security number. 
• By mail or in person: You must provide either your West Virginia DMV ID number or the last four digits of your Social Security number. If you have neither, you must write “NONE,” and a voter ID number will be assigned. 

WHAT TYPES OF ID CAN I USE TO REGISTER TO VOTE IN WEST VIRGINIA? 

• Online registration requires: 
  • West Virginia driver’s license or state ID and 
  • Last four digits of your Social Security number 
• Paper form (by mail or in person) requires: 
  • Either your WV DMV ID number or the last four digits of your Social Security number 
  • If you have neither, write “NONE” and a voter ID number will be assigned to you 

Additional ID Requirements for First-Time Voters 

If you are registering for the first time in West Virginia (or the first time in a county) and have never voted in a federal election in the state, you must also provide proof of identity and residence. You can submit one of the following with your registration form or show it the first time you vote: 

• A current and valid photo ID, or 
• A current: 
• Utility bill 
• Bank statement 
• Government check 
• Paycheck 
• Other government document that includes your name and current residence address 

WHAT IF I DON’T HAVE THE REQUIRED ID WHEN I REGISTER IN WEST VIRGINIA? 

• If registering online, you must have both a WV driver’s license or ID and the last four digits of your SSN. If not, you’ll need to fill out the form online, print it, and submit it by mail or in person. 
• If registering by mail or in person and you don’t have a DMV ID or SSN, you can write “NONE” on the form to be assigned a voter ID number. 
• If you're a first-time voter in West Virginia and don’t provide a copy of acceptable ID with your registration, you will be required to show ID the first time you vote. 

Voters can call or text 844-338-8743 at any time to reach VoteRiders Voter ID Helpline 

Official results are never available on Election Day. Election officials are working around the clock to count an unprecedented number of ballots, and it’s essential that they take the time to make sure every vote is counted.

Official election results will be uploaded on West Virginia’s Secretary of State website as they become available.

You are a Military or Overseas voter if you are in uniformed services, living overseas OR a spouse or dependent of a uniformed services voter. To get registered and vote, you can utilize Overseas Vote Foundation.

If you have additional questions about elections and voting overseas you can use our state specific elections official directory or contact the Overseas Vote Foundation.

You can make sure we have safe, fair, and efficient elections for all. Become a poll worker today!

In order to be a poll worker in West Virginia, you must:

• Be 18 years of age by the time of the next election:
• Be a resident of West Virginia
• Be registered to vote in the county you reside in
• Complete required training

You will be entitled to compensation

To sign up, contact your local board of elections.

You can find your polling place by utilizing your state resource.

If you have further questions on your polling place location, please contact your county clerk.

West Virginia has a hybrid primary system. If you are registered to with a particular party, you must vote in that parties primary. However, if you are unaffiliated with any political party, you can choose which party’s primary you wish to vote in.

If you have any questions about your state’s primary election, please contact your local election officials.

If there is a question about your eligibility to vote in an election, you may vote a provisional ballot.

You might vote a provisional ballot if:

• Your registration record is not available at the time of the election
• Your signature in the poll book does not match the signature on the registration record
• The registration record indicates any other legal disqualifications

The canvassing board will review the information associated with the ballot and will determine whether or not your vote can be counted. Provisional ballots are counted 5 days after the election. To check on the status of your provisional ballot, please use your state's tool.

If your health or disability does not permit you to go to the polls, you may get a mail in ballot. Be sure to apply early enough so that your application reaches the clerk at least six days before the election. If you are permanently unable to go to the polls, you may apply to be placed on the permanent absentee voting list to vote by mail. A doctor's statement must be filed with your application, but once approved, the clerk will automatically send you an absentee ballot before each election.

If you vote at the polls and need assistance, you may choose a person to assist you, or two poll workers of opposing political parties may read the ballot to you or help you mark your ballot (only poll workers may mark your ballot). If you need them in order to vote, you may use braille navigation, audio reading of the ballot or touch screen interfaces to help you cast you ballot.

If you are unable to enter the polling location, curbside voting is available, or you may request a precinct change. Please contact your County Clerk for more information.

You can also utilize the American Association of People With Disabilities (AAPD) resource.

Private and public employers must give employees paid time off to vote, unless the employee has 3 hours nonworking time available to vote or the employee fails to vote.

To verify your voter registration

DO I NEED TO SHOW ID WHEN I VOTE IN WEST VIRGINIA? 

Yes. All voters in West Virginia must present a valid, unexpired form of ID when voting in person during early voting or on Election Day. 

Exceptions: 

• This rule does not apply to absentee-by-mail voters 
• Voters who meet certain criteria (listed under exceptions below) may vote without showing ID. 
• First-time voters who registered by mail and did not submit ID must show one of the specific forms of ID listed for first-time voters. 

WHAT TYPES OF ID CAN I USE TO VOTE IN WEST VIRGINIA? 

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 permit 

Additional ID rules for first-time voters (voting for the first time in WV or a county): 

If you didn’t show ID when registering, you must show a document with your name and current residential address the first time you vote. This applies whether you vote in person or by mail: 

Accepted forms include: 

• Valid photo ID 
• Utility bill 
• Bank statement 
• Government check 
• Paycheck 
• Any other official government document 

WHAT IF I DON’T HAVE AN ACCEPTABLE ID WHEN I GO TO VOTE IN WEST VIRGINIA? 

If you don't have an acceptable ID, you have three options: 

1. Bring someone with you: An adult who has known you for at least 6 months can confirm your identity if they: 
2. Show a valid photo ID with their name and address 
3. Sign a sworn statement at the polling place 
4. Be recognized by a poll worker: If a poll worker has known you for at least 6 months, you don’t need to show ID or provide a signed statement. 
5. Live in a licensed state care facility that is your polling place: Residents voting at their care facility do not need to show ID. 

If none of the above apply you can still vote using a provisional ballot. To have your vote counted, show your ID at your County Clerk’s Office before canvass (within a few days after the election). 

Voters can call or text 844-338-8743 at any time to reach VoteRiders Voter ID Helpline

Online registration deadline: 21 days before Election Day

Register by mail deadline: Postmarked 21 days before Election Day

In-person registration deadline: 21 days before Election Day

Not registered? Use our online registration tool to complete your application! 

The voting systems used in West Virginia are Optical Scan, AutoMARK, Paper Ballots and DRE.

Optical Scan: An optical scan ballot is a specially designed paper ballot which is marked by the voter with a special pencil, then tallied by a computer reader. The layout is very similar to the standardized tests given in school, the voter darkens an oval next to a candidate's name in order to enter a vote.

AutoMARK:This voting system actually uses the Optical Scan ballot. The voter inserts the ballot into the machine and uses the AutoMARK touch screen to make his/her choices; when the voter is finished, the unit then marks the ballot for the voter and the voter retrieves his/her ballot and places it in a ballot box.

Paper Ballots: Paper Ballots are still marked with an x to select the preferred candidate and then counted at the polling place by a team of five election officials called a Counting Board.

Direct Recording Electronic (DRE): This is the newest kind of system in use in the U.S. All the information about who and what you are voting for is on an electronic screen like a TV or computer screen.

There are many variations of DREs because lots of companies are inventing new ones, and many cities, counties and states are trying them out. Usually, after you have signed in, the poll workers will give you a card that you slide into a device to start your voting session.

Some of these devices will show all of the candidates and ballot choices on one big screen. Often, with these big screen devices you push a button next to the name of the candidate you want to vote for (or yes or no on a ballot measure). On other DREs, the screen is set up to show pages. On each screen or page, there will probably be one thing to vote on. For example, on one screen or page, you might vote for president. Then you might move to the next page to vote for senator. Often these small-screen devices have a touch screen, where you touch the screen next to the name of the person you want to vote for. Other devices have a key pad. And some have a keyboard, so you can write in the name of someone you want to vote for. You let the system know you are finished voting by pushing a button, touching the screen or entering something on a keypad.

You can learn more about voting systems by checking out the Elections Assistance Commission's (EAC) resource.