In West Virginia, you can cast your vote several ways: in-person early voting, mailing an absentee ballot or voting in-person on Election Day.
With early voting now underway, here’s a quick rundown of questions you might have as you head to the polls:
Besides the president, who’s on my ballot?
While the presidential election at the top of the ticket may get a lot of attention, there are hundreds of names on ballots across West Virginia’s 55 counties as well as a constitutional amendment.
All of the 100 seats in the West Virginia House are up for election, and half of the seats in the West Virginia Senate. And in every county and many cities, there are races for offices like sheriff, county commissioner, mayor, and assessor.
Our voter guide has information about national, statewide and many county races. Check it out here.
Several counties also have excess levies to fund schools, libraries and other public institutions. For more information on local races and levies on your ballot, contact your county clerk or consult your county’s sample ballots.
What are the deadlines for early voting and absentee voting in West Virginia?
Early in-person voting starts Oct. 23 and goes through Nov. 2. Every county has at least one location where you can vote during this period, generally the county courthouse or judicial annex. Find early voting locations in your county on the West Virginia Secretary of State website and call your county clerk’s office for more information.
If you plan to vote absentee, you must request an absentee ballot by the sixth day before the election, which is Oct. 31. It must be postmarked by Election Day (Nov. 5) or hand-delivered to your local County Clerk’s office by the day before Election Day (Nov. 4).
Certain absentee voters with physical disabilities may be eligible to receive an absentee ballot electronically. Check your eligibility here.
You can track your absentee ballot on the Secretary of State’s website.
What if I need a reminder of the candidates’ names when I’m in the voting booth?
Voters may bring sample ballots and voting guides into the booth with them, as long as they don’t show them to other voters or leave them behind, said David Cook, general counsel for the Secretary of State’s office.
State law prohibits voters from bringing into the polling booth “any recording or electronic device in order to record or interfere with the voting process.” That means no selfies in the voting booth.
Cook confirmed there is no prohibition on bringing cell phones into voting booths, as long as voters don’t use them to take photos or videos or to communicate with anyone.
But don’t plan to do all your research on candidates on your phone in the voting booth — technically, voters are not supposed to spend more than five minutes in the booth.
To have your choices ready to go when you get to the polling place, Mountain State Spotlight has a printable reference ballot you can get it emailed to your inbox by signing up here:
Get a printable reference ballot sent to your email
Get a free printable listing of the candidates in your county by entering your email below.
What do I need to bring to the polls with me?
When you check in with poll workers you will be required to provide your name, address and a form of identification. Acceptable forms of ID include:
- Driver’s license
- Student ID card
- Voter registration card
- Social Security card
- Concealed carry permit
- …and many other forms of state-issued identification
If you’re a first time voter, you’ll need to show ID with your voter registration application. According to the Secretary of State, only these types of ID will be accepted:
- Valid photo identification
- Utility bill
- Bank statement
- Government check
- Paycheck
- Any other official government document
What if a poll worker challenges my right to vote?
If you run into issues at your polling place and are unable to vote, poll workers are required to offer you a provisional ballot.
If your issues stem from a lack of ID, you can present your identification at your county clerk’s office within five days of the election and your ballot will be counted.
Otherwise, the Board of Canvassers (which consists of your local municipal or county commissions) will review your ballot and determine whether your ballot is eligible to be counted.
You can track your provisional ballot on the Secretary of State’s website.
Where can I see West Virginia election results? How soon will they start reporting election results?
Polls are open on Election Day from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Mountain State Spotlight will have real-time election results starting the evening of November 5 after polls close.
Sign up for our email newsletter to get updates in your inbox the night of the election and the morning after election day.
