When West Virginians go to the polls to cast ballots for their next U.S. Senator, Governor, state delegate, or county sheriff, their votes will be counted and protected, despite any fraud claims.
Four years ago, then-President Donald Trump falsely alleged that the election had been stolen from him. The turmoil that followed led to a violent insurrection in which his supporters tried to stop Congress from certifying Joe Biden’s victory.
This year, Trump has said that if he loses the election, it will only be because he was cheated out of victory. Therefore, things could get increasingly confusing, so here’s what you need to know.
How can I find out who won?
When results come in, we’ll have live election results on our website provided by the Associated Press.
We recommend reading coverage at news outlets like the Associated Press for information about national races outside of West Virginia. There, those results will be updated in real-time after polls close on Election Day.
The Associated Press has a team of experts who research historic voting trends and election laws. As votes are tallied, they project winners when the losing candidate can no longer come back and win.
Voter turnout has historically been much lower in West Virginia than in other states for the past three presidential elections. But, in early voting, several county clerks said they had record-breaking turnout on the first day.
How votes in West Virginia are counted
On the night of Election Day, ballots cast and tallied are reported as unofficial votes. After polls close, official results will not be known until a few days or weeks later.
Five days after the election, excluding weekends and holidays, county election officials conduct the canvass process in which mail-in, early voting, absentee and election-day ballots are counted together. During this process, officials also review voting machines and other materials involving vote collection.
After the canvass process is completed officials declare the results and wait 48 hours, during which candidates can request a recount. Then, the results are certified except in places where votes must be recounted.
Within ten days after the results are certified, candidates can contest the election through the courts.
If the results are not contested, then those are sent to the secretary of state and governor within 30 days to be reviewed. The deadline for results to be transmitted is December 5.
To learn more about how election officials canvass votes in West Virginia, you can find the state canvassing and recount manual on the Secretary of State’s Office website. Or view the West Virginia Election Calendar.
To learn more about election laws, you can read the elections and officers portion of the state constitution.
How is your vote secured?
The West Virginia Secretary of State’s Office ensures that each election is secure and every ballot is properly counted.
County clerks conduct the actual counting of votes at the local level, as laid out in state law.
“The process is established in a manner to make elections the safest and most transparent for gaining the public’s confidence,” wrote Diana Cromley, Mason County clerk and president of the West Virginia Association of Counties, in a recent op-ed.
County clerks are responsible for making sure that everyone who votes is eligible to vote and has access to vote, Cromley wrote. They also assist with the canvassing process after Election Day.
Is voter fraud an issue?
In 2020, former President Donald Trump claimed that the presidential election had been stolen, despite numerous court rulings indicating otherwise. These claims have been echoed by West Virginia politicians, even the state’s top election officer, Secretary of State Mac Warner.
The truth is that incidents of voter fraud are almost nonexistent, voter impersonation is very rare and many instances of alleged fraud are errors by election administrators, according to the nonpartisan Brennan Center for Justice.
Human errors can still happen. In Mingo County, a state Senate candidate was mistakenly left off of nearly 700 ballots during early voting.
Several studies have also been conducted which have shown election fraud is incredibly rare. It is illegal in every state for noncitizens to vote in federal elections, holding a penalty of up to a year of federal prison and a fine.
“Citizens can vote in 2024 with confidence,” wrote Michael Waldman, the center’s president and CEO. “Despite the noise and lies and melodrama, voting will likely be uneventful for the vast majority of Americans.”