How do I find out if I am already registered to vote?
You may search for your voter registration information by entering your name and date of birth in the Search My Registration / Polling Place online search.
How do I register to vote?
Online: Visit West Virginia's Online Voter Registration Website.
By mail: Download and complete the West Virginia Voter Registration Application and mail it to your County Clerk or the Secretary of State's Office.
In person: You may register to vote in person at any of the following locations:
- Your County Clerk's Office
- 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
Can I register to vote online?
Do I need identification when I register to vote?
If you are registering to vote for the first time in West Virginia or your county, and you have not voted in a federal election in this state, you must show a valid ID with your application or the first time you vote. If you mail your application, you may send a copy of a valid ID. We accept the following documents that show your current name and address:
- Valid photo identification
- Utility bill
- Bank statement
- Government check
- Paycheck
- Any other official government document
What is the quickest way to receive my voter registration card?
The fastest way to register to vote is to bring your current driver's license or state-issued identification card to your County Clerk's Office. They will give you an application, and you will receive your voter registration card on the spot. If you register any other way, your voter registration card will come in the mail.
How will I know when my application is processed?
You will receive notification by mail when your application has been processed by your County Clerk. Call your County Clerk if you have questions about your application.
How do I change or update my voter registration?
You may update your information online or by mail. You may also fill out another Voter Registration Application at your County Clerk's Office or other voter registration location.
How old must I be to register to vote?
You must be 17 years old and 18 by the next general election. 17-year-olds may register and vote in primary elections if they turn 18 before the next general election.
Do I need to be a United States Citizen before I register to vote?
Yes, you must be a natural born or naturalized citizen of the United States to register to vote.
Is someone with a developmental disability allowed to register to vote?
Yes, a person with a developmental disability is allowed to register to vote, unless he or she has been ruled mentally incompetent by a court of law.
Is someone with a mental health disorder allowed to register to vote?
Yes, a person with a mental health disorder is allowed to register to vote, unless he or she has been ruled mentally incompetent by a court of law.
Is someone convicted of a crime allowed to register to vote?
Misdemeanor Conviction: A person convicted of a misdemeanor is eligible to register to vote and cast a ballot in any West Virginia election.
Felony Conviction: A person may not register to vote or cast a ballot while serving a sentence, which includes any period of incarceration, parole, and probation, following a conviction for either (1) a felony, (2) treason, or (3) bribery in an election. However, once the sentence is fully served and the person is "off papers," he or she may re-register to vote and participate in the next West Virginia election.
For information about re-registering after you complete your sentence, see our Felon Voting Rights brochure.
May I use a PO Box address as my residence address on my application?
No, you must have the address where you live on your voter registration. If the US Postal Service does not deliver mail to your residence address, please contact your County Clerk for instructions.
Is there a deadline for registering to vote?
To vote in the next election, you must register at least 21 days before the date of the election.
Will my voter registration information stay private?
Most voter information is public record, but the law says we must keep your sensitive information private. No one will release your social security number, driver's license or state ID number, telephone number, or email address.
May homeless people register to vote?
Yes, if a person has no permanent residence but lives in the county, he or she may use the address of a shelter, assistance center, or family member.
How do I cancel my voter registration?
You may cancel your voter registration by sending a written request to your County Clerk. Be sure to sign your request.
How do I cancel the voter registration of a deceased family member?
If you are the parent, legal guardian, child, sibling, or spouse of a voter who has passed away, you may cancel his or her voter registration by completing the Affidavit for Voter Registration Cancellation of Deceased Voter and submitting it by mail or in person to your County Clerk.
How can I help other people register to vote?
You can request up to 200 voter registration forms from the Secretary of State's Office. If you want more than 10 forms, you must fill out the Request for West Virginia Voter Registration Forms. Return the form to the Secretary of State's Office in person or by mail. You may also email your form to elections@wvsos.gov.
Can I apply to vote absentee electronically as a voter with a physical disability?
Please visit the Voters with Physical Disabilities Absentee Voting Information page to see eligibility requirements and how to apply to vote absentee electronically.
When is the next election?
Primary Election: Held on the second Tuesday in May of each even-numbered year.
General Election: Held on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November of each even-numbered year.
Contact your Municipal Recorder/Clerk for local election dates.
When and where do I vote?
Election Day: 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. at your polling place. Find your polling place.
Early Voting period: Voters may vote early at the county courthouse, an annex, or a designated community voting location during normal business hours beginning the 13th day before the election to the 3rd day before the election. Early voting will also be conducted between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on the last 2 Saturdays before the election. Prior to the start of early voting, current early voting locations will be posted at GoVoteWV.com.
Remember that on Election Day you must vote at your assigned polling location. If the polling place is not accessible to you because of a disability, contact your County Clerk as soon as possible to arrange for voting at another location.
What happens at the polling place?
- You will check in with the poll workers at the registration table (there may be a line).
The poll worker will ask you to state your name and address and will ask for your ID: Acceptable forms of ID.
First-time voters: Your poll worker may ask for any of the following forms of identification which include your current residential address:
- Valid photo identification
- Utility bill
- Bank statement
- Government check
- Paycheck
- Any other official government document
The poll worker will show your name and address on the list of voters and ask you to verify your information and sign. If you have moved outside of your precinct but in the same county, call your County Clerk's Office to find out your new polling place.
Voting a provisional ballot: If the poll workers do not find your name in the poll book, or find that you may otherwise be ineligible to vote, they must offer you a provisional ballot. If you vote a provisional ballot because you did not show ID, present your ID at your County Clerk's Office before canvass and your ballot will be counted.
- A poll worker will take you to the voting booth where you will vote your ballot. Voters with disabilities: learn about accessible voting at the polling place.
Do I need to provide identification if I vote absentee?
If your first time voting will be absentee by mail, you must send a copy of one of the forms of valid ID with your ballot. If you have previously voted in person in a federal election, ID is not required when voting an absentee ballot. You can find acceptable forms of ID here.
My poll workers said my ballot would be provisional. What does that mean?
If the poll workers do not find your name in the poll book, or they find that you may otherwise be ineligible to vote, they must offer you a provisional ballot. If you vote a provisional ballot because you did not show ID, just present your ID at your County Clerk's Office before canvass and your ballot will be counted. If you vote a provisional ballot for any other reason, and the Board of Canvassers find that you are eligible and registered, your ballot will be counted. Your provisional ballot will stay private through the entire process. You may track the status of your provisional ballot by calling our toll-free number or your County Clerk's Office.
Who is running for office?
You may view a current list of candidates here: Candidate Listing.
Who are the current elected officials?
Find who is currently serving in federal, state, legislative, and judicial offices, along with their term information: Current Office Holders.
Are polling places accessible to voters with disabilities?
During statewide elections, all polling places in West Virginia have at least one voting machine that is accessible to voters with disabilities. During county-wide elections, there must be at least one accessible voting machine available in the county. If your polling location is not accessible to you, contact your County Clerk. Learn more about voting with disabilities.
Can someone help me vote my ballot?
Yes, you may bring someone to assist you or two poll workers can help you vote your ballot. Reasons for receiving assistance in voting include blindness, disability, advanced age, or the inability to read and write. Just ask your poll worker.
Does West Virginia have absentee voting or vote by mail?
West Virginia has absentee voting by request, which means voters who need to vote by mail must first submit an application to their county clerk. Learn more about absentee voting.
I cannot make it to the polls. Can I vote by mail?
If you cannot make it to your polling place during Early Voting or on Election Day, you may be able to vote by mail. Learn more about absentee voting.
How do I vote as a member of uniformed services on active duty, their spouse or dependent, or a citizen residing overseas?
Uniformed service members on active duty inside or outside of the United States, their spouses and dependents, and citizens residing outside of the United States that consider West Virginia their last place of residence may vote by mail or electronically. You may start applying for a ballot beginning January 1st of each election year. Visit our Absentee Voting Information page to download an application and learn more about your voting opportunities.
I will be in the hospital on Election Day. How can I vote?
If you are in the hospital on Election Day, two election officials can bring you an emergency absentee ballot. You or a family member should contact your County Clerk no earlier than the 7th day before the election and no later than noon on Election Day. Application for Voting an Emergency Absent Voter's Ballot.
I am in the Address Confidentiality Program. How can I vote?
If you are a participant in the Address Confidentiality Program (ACP), call 866.767.8683 or 304.558.6000 and ask to speak with our ACP staff.
I have a permanent disability that prevents me from going to the polling place. How can I vote?
If you have a permanent, physical disability that prevents you from going to the polling place, you may apply to your County Clerk to receive a ballot by mail for every election: Permanent Absentee Voter Application.
How do I vote absentee electronically as a qualified voter with a physical disability?
The Physical Disabilities Absentee Voting Information page details the eligibility requirements and how to apply and cast your ballot through this method.
I applied for an absentee ballot. When will my County Clerk send my ballot?
Your County Clerk begins mailing ballots by the 46th day before the election.
What is the deadline for applying for an absentee ballot?
Your County Clerk must receive your application by the sixth day before the election.
What is the deadline for sending my absentee ballot?
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.
I sent my absentee ballot. How do I know if my County Clerk receives it?
You may use our web application to find out the status of your ballot.
Which political parties are recognized in West Virginia?
A political party becomes recognized in West Virginia when its candidate for governor receives at least one percent of votes cast for governor in the previous general election (WV Code §3-1-8). We now have four recognized political parties:
- Democratic — www.wvdemocrats.com
- Libertarian — www.lpwv.org
- Mountain — mountainpartywv.net
- Republican — www.wvgop.org
What does it mean to become a recognized political party?
Recognized political parties may nominate candidates for the general election in the primary election or by convention. Everyone else may only appear on the general election ballot by collecting signatures. Recognized political parties also elect people to form executive committees.
What are primary elections and conventions?
The primary election is an election for the recognized political parties to nominate candidates for offices on the general election ballot. We also elect judges, party executive committee members, board of education members, and soil conservation supervisors in the primary election. A party may also choose to hold a convention to nominate candidates instead of by the primary election. You should contact your political party to find out how they choose to nominate their candidates.
Do I have to register with one of the recognized political parties?
No, you may register as any political party or with no party. Just check "other" on your voter registration form and write in your party, or check "unaffiliated" if you do not wish to register with a party.
What are minor, independent, and third parties?
People often call political parties that have not gained recognized status minor, independent, or third party.
How do people not affiliated with a recognized political party run for office?
A person may run for office as a political party that does not have recognized status or as no party by collecting signatures to appear on the general election ballot.
How do I register in a political party?
You may register in a political party when you register to vote. On the voter registration form, check the box beside the party you want or check "other" and write in your party. If you do not want to register with a party, check the box beside "unaffiliated."
Does my political party matter in the primary election?
Your party matters because it determines which ballot you can vote on.
- If you are registered with one of the recognized political parties (Democratic, Libertarian, Mountain, or Republican), you can vote only that party's ballot or the non-partisan ballot if your party does not have one.
- If you are registered with another party or with no party, you can ask the poll worker if any of the recognized parties allow you to vote their ballot. If not, you will get the non-partisan ballot.
Learn more here: Which Ballot May I Vote?
Will all of the recognized political parties have a ballot in the primary election?
Not always. The recognized political parties may also nominate candidates for the general election by convention. For example, in 2014 the Libertarian Party hosted their nominating convention on March 8 rather than participating in the primary election. For this reason, voters registered as Libertarian received a non-partisan ballot in the primary election.
Does my political party matter in the general election?
No, every registered voter receives the same ballot in the general election. You will have the chance to vote for candidates from all of the political parties.
How do I change my political party?
You may change your political party by completing a new voter registration application.
Are there any deadlines for changing my political party?
You may change your political party on your voter registration at any time, but keep in mind that your political party matters at the primary election. For your new party to apply at the next primary election, you must make your change at least 21 days before the election. If you make the change later, it will apply at the next primary election.
There are more rules for candidates. If you want to file for nomination as a candidate in the Democratic, Libertarian, Mountain, or Republican parties, you must register as that party no less than 60 days before filing.
