Secretary of State Warns Citizens About Third-Party Mailing That Encourages Voter Registration Despite Already Being Registered to Vote

Charleston, W.Va.— Responding to what appears to be last-minute attempts to encourage eligible citizens to register to vote, Secretary of State Mac Warner is asking citizens not to jump to conclusions when information is received from third-party organizations regarding voter registration information. Secretary Warner also cautions voters to be very careful with providing information to any person or organization not associated with his office or a county clerk.

Beginning last week, literature and blank voter registration forms began arriving in West Virginia citizens’ mailboxes as part of an independent organization’s attempt to encourage citizens to register to vote before the October 16th deadline. That organization’s list was not checked for accuracy by the Secretary of State’s Office, so some recipients—who are already registered to vote—were mailed a registration form incorrectly. Most troubling, the mailed literature might include a warning to voters that they will not be eligible to vote if they do not submit the enclosed voter registration application, which is not accurate. If you are already registered to vote and have not moved since you registered or last updated, you do not need to submit a new voter registration application whatsoever.

According to Warner, every registered voter can make sure that their voter registration is current by checking online or calling their county clerk’s office. To check your voter registration, update your registration, find your polling place or register to vote, simply go to www.GoVoteWV.com. Citizens can also contact their county clerk’s office or the West Virginia Secretary of State Elections Division by calling (304) 558-6000.