West Virginians will go to the polls on Nov. 3 to pick the people to fill federal jobs like U.S. senator and U.S. representative all the way down to state legislative seats and county commissioners.
Voting in Mason County
In Mason County, like around West Virginia, early voting starts on Oct. 21.
You can vote in-person early from Oct. 21 through Oct. 31. Here’s a list of all of the early voting locations and hours around the state, but to find out more specifics about Mason County, call the county clerk at 304-675-1997.
Voting by mail is only available for West Virginians who are unable to vote in person for reasons like illness, incarceration, work schedule and travel. Here’s more information about voting absentee.
New this year: voters will be required to show a photo ID when they go to the polls. County clerks and the secretary of state can also issue voter ID cards that meet these requirements.
On Election Day, Nov. 3, polls in Mason County will be open 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. You can find your polling place by entering your information here.
Federal races
U.S. Senate
On the Record: candidate responses
Mountain State Spotlight asked each candidate to rate their level of agreement with four statements. Here are the statements and the responses we received.
Issue 1: I agree with President Donald Trump that FEMA should be eliminated and that the primary responsibility for handling disasters such as flooding and tornadoes should rest with state and local governments.
Issue 2: The federal government should provide incentives to energy and manufacturing companies, including relaxing regulations, to help keep them operating in West Virginia.
Issue 3: As West Virginians face rising costs of living and gas prices, I will prioritize the domestic welfare of my constituents over foreign interventions such as the war in Iran.
Issue 4: I will prioritize the autonomy and privacy of my constituents when voting on bills related to artificial intelligence and data centers.
U.S. House of Representatives
On the Record: candidate responses
Mountain State Spotlight asked each candidate to rate their level of agreement with four statements. Here are the statements and the responses we received.
Issue 1: I agree with President Donald Trump that FEMA should be eliminated and that the primary responsibility for handling disasters such as flooding and tornadoes should rest with state and local governments.
Issue 2: The federal government should provide incentives to energy and manufacturing companies, including relaxing regulations, to help keep them operating in West Virginia.
Issue 3: As West Virginians face rising costs of living and gas prices, I will prioritize the domestic welfare of my constituents over foreign interventions such as the war in Iran.
Issue 4: I will prioritize the autonomy and privacy of my constituents when voting on bills related to artificial intelligence and data centers.
State constitutional amendment
Citizenship Requirement to Vote in West Virginia Elections Amendment
Every West Virginia ballot will contain the following constitutional amendment:
Summary of Purpose: This amendment provides that in all elections held in West Virginia only citizens of the United States who are citizens of this state are qualified to vote.
Instructions to Voters: To vote in favor of the Amendment submitted, darken the oval next to “FOR”. To vote against the Amendment, darken the oval next to “AGAINST”.
Non-citizens are already blocked from voting in West Virginia elections per state code. If a simple majority of more than 50% of voters approves this amendment, this would add the prohibition to the state constitution.
The resolution that put this measure on the ballot was sponsored by Sen. Patricia Rucker, R-Jefferson, and approved unanimously by both the state Senate and House of Delegates. Similar language is included in the American Legislative Exchange Council’s “Essential Policy Solutions for 2026,” and the amendment is supported by Americans for Citizen Voting, which advocates for similar policies around the country. It’s opposed by the League of Women Voters of West Virginia, which calls it “completely unnecessary.”
West Virginia Legislature
Need to know which West Virginia House or Senate district you live in?
Who you see on your ballot for West Virginia House and Senate depends on where you live. Enter your address in the tool below.
Senate District 4
On the Record: Candidates did not respond to Mountain State Spotlight’s survey.
House District 17
On the Record
Mountain State Spotlight asked each candidate to rate their level of agreement with five statements. Here are the statements; click the arrow to see the responses we received.
West Virginia should fund infrastructure such as clean drinking water, high-quality roads and bridges, and local public schools before passing additional income tax cuts.
The best way to ensure every West Virginia child receives a quality education is to ensure the Hope Scholarship is fully funded for all students with no eligibility restrictions.
When federal funding is cut for social services like SNAP and Medicaid, the state should step in to ensure eligible West Virginians still have access.
Legislation around data centers, namely 2025’s HB 2014, should be revised to return meaningful oversight and authority over such projects to local communities and governments.
Lawmakers should direct more government economic development resources toward initiatives recommended by the state Chamber of Commerce, like childcare, high-speed internet and workforce training.
House District 18
On the Record: Candidates did not respond to Mountain State Spotlight’s survey.
County races
Mason County levy
School levy
Special election to authorize additional levies (the “Excess Levy”) for the fiscal years beginning July 1, 2029, July 1, 2030, July 1, 2031, July 1, 2032, and July 1, 2033 in the approximate average amount of $9,923,215 annually for the purpose of the payment of the general current expenses of The Board of Education of the County of Mason (the “Board”), including for the purposes hereinafter set forth; all according to the Order of the Board entered on the 11th day of August, 2026, and as more particularly described below.
PURPOSE AND ANNUAL AMOUNT FOR EACH PURPOSE
Professional and Service Salary Supplements, Personnel Taxes and Benefits: $3,000,000. Including, but not limited to, school nurse health services above state aid funding, supplemental salaries for dual credit courses, existing county supplements, salaries or personnel in excess of 200 days, supplemental co-curricular and extracurricular salaries (academic, arts, and athletic), staff attendance incentives, FICA taxes, unemployment taxes, workers’ compensation taxes, and/or retirement, dental and/or vision insurance.
Textbooks, Supplies, and Equipment and Insurance: $1,400,000. Including, but not limited to, free textbooks and textbook-related materials, duplicating paper, computer paper, writing paper, notebook paper, instructional supplies and equipment, including library, office operating expenses and/or accident insurance for all county students during school and school related activities.
Extra and Co-Curricular activities: $450,000. Including, but not limited to, field trips, school competitions, free admission for secondary students into their home school activities, free sports passes available to veterans, first responders and senior citizens with appropriate identification, and/or other extra and co-curricular expenses.
Construction and Repair, Maintenance and Building Utilities: $2,942,594. Including, but not limited to, construction, building repairs, roof replacement, asbestos projects, structural repairs, fire code corrections, Americans with Disabilities Act compliance, equipment maintenance, paving, safety and security systems, lawn maintenance, lease purchases and/or all utilities and utility-related costs.
Computer Technology: $150,000. Including, but not limited to, technician salaries and related benefits, computer purchases, repair, upgrades, software, and/or contracting.
Student Transportation: $633,121. Including, but not limited to, maintenance of equipment, vehicle replacement, gasoline tanks, transportation equipment, fuel and/or tools.
School Safety and Security: $1,000,000. Including, but not limited to, the employment of one or more school security officer(s) and/or other school safety and security measures, equipment and improvements.
Mason County Career Center: $250,000. Including, but not limited to, funding related to CTE curriculum, programming, supplies, equipment and/or capital improvements.
Supplemental Support of the Following Agencies: $97,500
Mason County Library: $42,500
WV Cooperative Extension: $30,000
Mason County Fair: $25,000
TOTAL $9,923,215
The amounts set forth above are the anticipated average annual amounts for each purpose. The actual amounts for each purpose likely will vary from one fiscal year
to the next. If any item in the above-stated purposes is declared unconstitutional or invalid due to judicial or legislative action, then any affected funds will be distributed among the remaining constitutional and valid itemized purposes.
In the event the Board shall obtain additional money by grant or otherwise from the state or federal government, or from any agency of either, or from any other source, for the purposes aforesaid, such additional money may be used either in substitution for, or in addition to, the sums obtained from such additional levies as said the Board may from time to time determine. In the event that any specified library, school facility or organization that is named in the above-stated purposes closes, ceases operation or is otherwise unable to accept excess levy funds, the Board, in its sole discretion, may reallocate funds that were originally allocated to such specified library, school facility or organization, as the case may be, to any of the other above-stated purposes.
The Board is hereby authorized and empowered to expend, during the term of this levy and one additional year, the surplus, if any, accruing during the term of this
levy in excess of the amounts needed for any of the above-stated purposes, for the enrichment, supplementation, and advancement of all education programs in
Mason County, school facility capital improvements and/or other purposes pertinent to the operation of the schools within the Mason County School District, as the
Board may determine from time to time, in its discretion.
In the event that the actual amount collected is less than the amounts noted for the above-stated purposes for any one or more fiscal years, the Board is hereby
authorized and empowered to determine, in its discretion, which one or more of the above-stated purposes shall be reduced for each such fiscal year, and the amount
of each such reduction for such fiscal year; provided, that the total of all such reductions shall not exceed the amount of such collection shortfall each year; provided, further, that if any such reduction for one or more of the above-stated purposes is necessary, the Board shall not reduce the funds allocated for Professional and Service Salary Supplements, Personnel Taxes and Benefits.
The Board reserves unto itself as the levying body the right and authority to reduce the rates of the excess levy, in its sole discretion, if increased assessments would produce funds beyond projected needs in any fiscal year specified in the levy call.
The additional levies, in cents per $100 of assessed value on each class of property, shall be on Class I property 22.95 cents; on Class II property 45.90 cents; on
Class III property 91.80 cents; and on Class IV property 91.80 cents.
That the proposed years to which the additional rate of levies shall apply are the fiscal years beginning July I, 2029, July I, 2030, July 1, 2031, July l, 2032, and July
1, 2033.
Mason County Commission
What does a county commission do?
Every West Virginia county has an elected county body that governs it. These officials are elected to six-year terms; their responsibilities include overseeing county tax dollars, supervising the county election process, maintaining the county courthouse and funding county services like libraries, ambulances, fire services and trash pick up. Candidates have to be at least 18 years old, and live in the magisterial district they’re vying to represent.
These are all of the races that are listed on the West Virginia Secretary of State’s website, but there may be other local races on your ballot! For more information about Mason County races call the county clerk at 304-675-1997.
If you see an error in our voter guide, or want to provide more information about one of the candidates, please email us at contact@mountainstatespotlight.org.