Election laws and legislation in West Virginia

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Election law encompasses a wide array of issues, including voter registration, ballot access, early voting, absentee/mail-in voting and voter identification requirements. The laws governing the administration of elections can vary significantly from state to state and even between jurisdictions within states. This article identifies the statutory source of election law in West Virginia and compiles information on proposed and enacted legislation that would modify election law in West Virginia.

Analysis

See also: State of Election Administration Legislation Reports

2025

In 2025, West Virginia lawmakers enacted eight election-related bills. The bills changed various aspects of the state's election laws, including but not limited to, ranked-choice voting, voter eligiblity, and voter ID.

SB 490 prohibits a state, county, or local elections office from using ranked-choice voting or instant runoff voting to conduct an election or nomination of any candidate for a local, state, or federal office.
SB 487 reduces the period of inactivity required to begin the process of designating a voter as inactive from four years to two.
HB 3016 requires voters to present a photo identification before voting.

2024

West Virginia passed 12 bills changing election law in 2024. One bill, HB 5298, prohibited a person who was a candidate for nomination by a recognized political party from becoming a candidate for the same office in the next election for a different political party.

Election law in West Virginia

See also: Election administration in West Virginia

The laws governing elections in West Virginia are contained in Chapter 3 of the West Virginia Code.

Election legislation in West Virginia

2025

The embedded table below lists all election-related bills introduced in West Virginia in 2025. The following information is included for each bill:

State
Bill number
Official bill name or caption
Most recent action date
Legislative status
Sponsor party
Topics dealt with by the bill

Bills are organized by most recent action. The table displays up to 100 results. To view more bills, use the arrows in the upper-right corner. Clicking on a bill will open its page on Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker, which includes bill details and a summary.

2024

The embedded table below lists all election-related bills introduced in West Virginia in 2024. The following information is included for each bill:

State
Bill number
Official bill name or caption
Most recent action date
Legislative status
Sponsor party
Topics dealt with by the bill

Bills are organized by most recent action. The table displays up to 100 results. To view more bills, use the arrows in the upper-right corner. Clicking on a bill will open its page on Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker, which includes bill details and a summary.

2023

The embedded table below lists all election-related bills introduced in West Virginia in 2023. The following information is included for each bill:

State
Bill number
Official bill name or caption
Most recent action date
Legislative status
Sponsor party
Topics dealt with by the bill

Bills are organized by most recent action. The table displays up to 100 results. To view more bills, use the arrows in the upper-right corner. Clicking on a bill will open its page on Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker, which includes bill details and a summary.

2022

The embedded table below lists all election-related bills introduced in West Virginia in 2022. The following information is included for each bill:

State
Bill number
Official bill name or caption
Most recent action date
Legislative status
Sponsor party
Topics dealt with by the bill

Bills are organized by most recent action. The table displays up to 100 results. To view more bills, use the arrows in the upper-right corner. Clicking on a bill will open its page on Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker, which includes bill details and a summary.

Election policy ballot measures

See also: Elections and campaigns on the ballot and List of West Virginia ballot measures

Ballotpedia has not tracked any ballot measures relating to election and campaign policy in West Virginia as of this time.

The Ballot Bulletin

The Ballot Bulletin is a weekly email that delivers the latest updates on election policy. The Ballot Bulletin tracks developments in election policy around the country, including legislative activity, big-picture trends, and recent news. Each email contains in-depth data from our Election Administration Legislation Tracker. You'll also be able to track relevant legislation, with links to and summaries of the bills themselves.

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Election administration agencies

Election agencies

Seal of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission

See also: State election agencies

Individuals seeking additional information about election administration in West Virginia can contact the following local, state, and federal agencies.

West Virginia County Clerks

Click here for a list

West Virginia Secretary of State, Elections Division

State Capitol Bldg.

Charleston, West Virginia 25305

Phone: 304-558-6000

Toll free: 866-767-8683

Fax: 304-558-0900

Email: elections@wvsos.gov

Website: http://www.sos.wv.gov/elections/pages/default.aspx

West Virginia Ethics Commission

210 Brooks Street, Suite 300

Charleston, West Virginia 25301