Voter Registration

Registration Deadline: To vote in the next election, you must register at least 21 days before the date of the election.

 

Party Affiliation: For primaries, if you are registered with one of the four recognized political parties (Democratic, Libertarian, Mountain or Republican, you may only vote that party's ballot or the non-partisan ballot. If you are registered with any other party or with no party, you may ask the poll worker for one of the recognized party's ballots or they will give you the non-partisan ballot. In the General Election, every registered voter receives the same ballot.

 

Voter Registration Qualifications

Age: At least 17 years old, and 18 before the next General Election. Seventeen-year olds may register and vote in primary elections if they turn 18 before the next general election.

Citizenship: Must be a United States citizen

Residency: Reside at their registered legal address for at least thirty (30) days before the election to be considered eligible to vote. This thirty-day requirement also applies to elections in municipalities, barring other language in municipal charters

Mental Competency: Not been judged incompetent by a court of competent jurisdiction

Felony Convictions: No one under conviction, probation, or parole for treason, bribery in an election, or any felony is allowed to vote. Once a person completes their sentence, they may register to vote again.

 

Obtaining a Voter Registration Form

Online: To register to vote or update your voter registration online, you must provide the following information:

-Your name as it appears on your West Virginia driver's license or ID card

-Your date of birth

-Your West Virginia driver's license or ID card number

-Your last four digits of your Social Security Number

If you do not have a West Virginia driver's license or ID card number and the last four digits of your Social Security Number, you may not submit your form online, but you may enter your information online to be auto-filled in a voter registration application. Once you create your application online, you may print, sign and deliver it to your County Clerk by mail or in person.

By mail/in writing: Request an application from your County Clerk or download the mail-in application form and return it completed to your county clerk's office.

In person: You may register to vote in person at any of the following locations:

-Your County Clerk's office (This is the fastest way to register to vote. Bring your current driver’s license or state-issued identification, they will give you an application, and you will receive your voter's registration card on the spot. If you register any other way, your voter registration card will come in the mail.)

-The Secretary of State's Office

-The Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV)

-Public assistance offices

-Agencies who serve people with disabilities

-Marriage license offices

-Military recruiting agencies

 

Verifying Your Voter Registration Status

Online: West Virginia Voter Registration Verification

Absentee Ballot Qualifications

Who can vote absentee:

-Illness, injury or other medical reason (includes confinement due to COVID-19: the term ‘confinement’ does not require strict, uninterrupted isolation for determining eligibility. Voters with certain medical conditions at high risk of suffering severe illness from COVID-19, and their caregivers, who are taking good-faith precautions to limit exposure to other individuals by following official guidance from state and federal health officials are eligible to vote absentee) 

-Disability or 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*

“*” indicates that the voter must receive a ballot at an address outside of the county. 

For more information regarding voters with physical disabilities, military and overseas voters, first responders, and emergency and special absentee voting, click here

 

Obtaining an Absentee Ballot

The deadline to submit an absentee ballot application is the 6th day before each election. Applications must be submitted to your county clerk via fax, U.S. mail, email, or in-person to the county clerk. County Clerks begin mailing ballots on the 46th day before the election.

 

Submitting an Absentee Ballot

After receiving an absentee ballot, 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).

If you have previously voted in person in a federal election, ID is not required when voting an absentee ballot. If your first time voting will be absentee by mail, you must send a copy of one of the forms of valid ID listed below with your ballot.

Valid ID for first time voters must show your current name and address in order to be accepted:

-Valid photo identification

-Utility bill

-Bank statement

-Government check

-Paycheck

-Any other official government document

 

Unless a voter is a military or overseas voter, the ballot must be mailed and postmarked by Election Day and received by the start of Canvass.

For hand-delivery, absentee ballots must be delivered to the County Clerk's office by the day before Election Day. Although voters do not have to personally return his or her absentee ballot, no one person may deliver more than two voters' absentee ballots.

If you mail your ballot, it must be postmarked by Election Day and your County Clerk must receive it by the start of canvass (five days after the election, excluding Sundays). If you or someone else hand-delivers your ballot, your County Clerk must receive it by the day before the election.

Once submitted, you can track your absentee ballot here

Uniformed and Overseas Citizens: Click here for more information

 

Early Voting

Early voting qualifications: Any eligible voter may vote early in person

 

Other information for early voting: The regular period of Early Voting begins thirteen days before the election and continues until three days before the election. 

Additional Information

Verifying Registration: West Virginia Voter Registration Verification

Deciding how to vote: https://votesmart.org/

Polling Place: West Virginia Polling Place Locator

ID Requirements: West Virginia's Voter Identification Law

Problems with voting: Election complaint process and form

Verifying provisional ballot status: Track provisional ballot status

Verifying absentee ballot status: You can track the status of your ballot here