State of West Virginia Elections & Voting

Election Day is November 5

October 15 Deadline to register to vote
October 23 First day of early voting
October 30 Deadline to request an absentee ballot
November 2 Last day of early voting
November 4 Deadline to return absentee ballots by hand
November 5 Deadline to postmark absentee ballots (if received by November 12)
November 5 Election Day

To register to vote in West Virginia, you must:

Be a United States Citizen
You must be 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.
Not be ruled mentally incompetent by a court of law
Not be serving a sentence for a felony, treason, or bribery in an election*

*Once the felony conviction sentence, which includes any period of incarceration, parole and probation, sis fully served, he/she may re-register to vote and participate in the next West Virginia election. For information about re-registering to vote after you complete your sentence, check out our Felon Voting Rights brochure.

How to register to vote:

Online: Visit West Virginia’s Online Voter Registration Website (you must have a West Virginia driver’s license or ID card number and the last four digits of your Social Security Number)
By mail: You may 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

Voter Registration ID Requirements

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

Voter ID Requirements

West Virginia voters must show an approved form of identification at the polls during early voting or on election day. All forms of ID must be valid and not expired.

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
- Student ID card
- A concealed carry (pistol/revolver) permit

Exceptions to the voter ID requirements:

Exception 1: Signed, Sworn Statement by an Adult who has Known the Voter for 6 Months or More
Exception 2: A Poll Worker Knows the Voter
Exception 3: Residents of State Care Facilities if the resident’s polling place is located at the care facility.

Visit VoteRiders for more information on voter ID requirements in West Virginia.

Absentee Voting

Eligibility to vote absentee in West Virginia requires two basic criteria: (1) confinement or not being present in the county during in-person voting, and (2) a permitted reason/excuse.

Permitted Reasons and Excuses to Vote Absentee by Mail:

Illness, injury or other medical reason (includes confinement due to COVID-19*)
Immobility due to a disability or “extreme advanced age” (this term is undefined in law; immobilized voters must self-identify)
Incarceration or home detention (does not include individuals serving a sentence following conviction of a 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

The absentee ballot application must be received in your county clerk’s office by the 6th day before each election. Applications may be submitted to your county clerk via fax, U.S. mail, email, or in-person by hand delivery.

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 photo identification
Utility bill
Bank statement
Government check
Paycheck
Any other official government document

Early In-Person Voting

Beginning on the 13th day and continuing through the third day before the election, voter may vote an early ballot at the county courthouse, an annex, or a designated community voting location during normal business hours; additionally, early voting must be conducted between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on the last 2 Saturdays before the General Election.

Please contact your County Clerk to confirm Early Voting hours and locations.

Resources

Tribes in West Virginia

Federally recognized tribes

None

State recognized tribes

None

Native Vote Coordinators

Major Party Contact Information

Democrat
Chair, Mike Pushkin
www.wvdems.org

Republican
Chair, Matt Herridge
www.wvgop.org