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Voting in West Virginia

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The policies governing voter participation are enacted and enforced primarily at the state level. These policies, which include voter identification requirements, early voting provisions, online voter registration systems, and more, dictate the conditions under which people cast their ballots in their respective states.

This article includes the following information about voting policies in West Virginia:

Click here for more information about election administration in the state, including voter list maintenance policies, provisional ballot rules, post-election auditing practices, and additional election policy context.

For information on elections happening this year, click here.

Do you have questions about your elections? Looking for information about your local election official? Click here to use U.S. Vote Foundation’s election official lookup tool.

Voter registration

Eligibility and registration details

Check your voter registration status here.

To vote in West Virginia, an individual must be a citizen of the United States, a resident of West Virginia, and at least 18 years of age by the date of the next general election.[1]

The registration deadline is 21 days prior to an election. An individual may register to vote by submitting a form by mail to his or her county clerk's office or the Secretary of State's Office. Registration can be completed online, in person at the county clerk's office, the Secretary of State's office, the Department of Motor Vehicles, any public assistance office, any agency that serves people with disabilities, any marriage license office, or any military recruiting agency.[1]


In-person voting

Poll times

See also: State poll opening and closing times

In West Virginia, all polling places are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time. A voter who is in line at the time polls close must still be permitted to vote.[2]

Voter identification

See also: Voter identification laws by state

West Virginia requires voters to present identification while voting. The identification provided must be issued either by the State of West Virginia, or one of its subsidiaries, or by the United States government.[3][4]

Signed into law in 2025, HB 3016 established that a document was valid if it:[4]

“
(A) Has been issued either by the State of West Virginia, one of its political subdivisions or instrumentalities, or by the United States Government;
(B) Contains the name of the person desiring to vote; and
(C) Contains a photograph of the person desiring to vote: Provided, That a driver’s license or identification card issued in accordance with §17B-2-1(f)(4) of this code that does not contain a photograph of the person desiring to vote is a valid identifying document.[5]
 ”

State law enumerates the following identifications that an individual may use to vote:[4]

“
(A) A valid West Virginia driver’s license or valid West Virginia identification card issued by the West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles, including a driver’s license or identification card issued in accordance with §17B-2-1(f)(4) of this code.
(B) A valid driver’s license issued by a state other than the State of West Virginia;
(C) A valid United States passport or passport card;
(D) A valid employee identification card with a photograph of the eligible voter issued by any branch, department, agency, or entity of the United States Government or of the State of West Virginia, or by any county, municipality, board, authority, or other political subdivision of West Virginia;
(E) A valid student identification card with a photograph of the eligible voter issued by an institution of higher education in West Virginia, or a valid high school identification card issued by a West Virginia high school;
(F) A valid military identification card issued by the United States with a photograph of the person desiring to vote; or
(G) A valid voter registration card that includes the voter’s photograph issued by a county clerk in the State of West Virginia or the Secretary of State. The county clerk or the Secretary of State may not charge or collect a fee for the application or issuance of a voter registration card that includes the voter’s photograph.[5]
 ”

Lastly, state law provided for the following exceptions and alternative methods of verifying a voter's identity:[4]

“
(3) Any expired document identified in §3-1-34(a)(2) of this code is a valid identifying document if presented by a registered voter 65 years of age or older: Provided, That the identifying document was not expired on the registered voter’s 65th birthday.
(4) In lieu of providing a valid identifying document, as required by this section, a registered voter may be accompanied at the polling place by an adult known to the registered voter for at least six months. That adult may sign an affidavit on a form provided to clerks and poll workers by the Secretary of State, which states under oath or affirmation that the adult has known the registered voter for at least six months, and that in fact the registered voter is the same person who is present for the purpose of voting. For the affidavit to be considered valid, the adult shall present a valid identifying document with his or her name, address, and photograph.
(5) A poll worker may allow a voter, whom the poll worker has known for at least six months, to vote without presenting a valid identifying document.
(6) If the person desiring to vote is unable to furnish a valid identifying document, or if the poll clerk determines that the proof of identification presented by the voter does not qualify as a valid identifying document, the person desiring to vote shall be permitted to cast a provisional ballot after executing an affidavit affirming his or her identity pursuant to §3-1-34(a)(6)(B) of this code.[5]
 ”

Voters can obtain a free voter ID card at their county clerk’s office.[6]

Early voting

See also: Early voting

West Virginia permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.

Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.

Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia permit no-excuse early voting.


Absentee/mail-in voting

See also: Absentee/mail-in voting

Voters in West Virginia are eligible to vote absentee in an election "if the voter is 'confined,' or not in their home county, for the entire duration of in-person voting (both the early voting period and on Election Day)," for one of the following reasons:[7]

  • “Injury or illness”
  • “Disability or 'extreme advanced age'”
  • “Incarceration or home detention (does not include individuals convicted of any 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”

To vote absentee, a request must be received by the county clerk no later than the sixth day prior to the election.[8]


Local election officials

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Do you need information about elections in your area? Are you looking for your local election official? Click here to visit the U.S. Vote Foundation and use their election official lookup tool.

Voting rules for people convicted of a felony

See also: Voting rights for people convicted of a felony

In West Virginia, people convicted of a felony lose the right to vote while serving their sentence, including probation and parole.[9] According to the secretary of state's website, "once the sentence is fully served and the person is 'off papers,' he/she may re-register to vote and participate in the next West Virginia election."[2]

Voting rights for people convicted of a felony vary from state to state. In the majority of states, people convicted of a felony cannot vote while they are incarcerated but may regain the right to vote upon release from prison or at some point thereafter.[10]


Election administration agencies

Election agencies

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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
Phone: 304-558-0664
Toll free: 866-558-0664
Fax: 304-558-2169
Email: ethics@wv.gov
Website: http://www.ethics.wv.gov/Pages/default.aspx

U.S. Election Assistance Commission

633 3rd Street NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 301-563-3919
Toll free: 1-866-747-1471
Email: clearinghouse@eac.gov
Website: https://www.eac.gov


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See also

Elections in West Virginia


External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 West Virginia Secretary of State, "Elections Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)," accessed June 30, 2025
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 West Virginia Secretary of State, "Elections Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)," accessed June 30, 2025
  3. ↑ West Virginia State Legislature, "West Virginia Code, §3-1-34. Voting procedures generally; identification; assistance to voters; voting records; penalties." accessed May 2, 2023
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 West Virginia Legislature, "House Bill 3016 (2025)," accessed June 27, 2025
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  6. ↑ West Virginia Secretary of State, "Be Registered and Ready" accessed June 29, 2025
  7. ↑ West Virginia Secretary of State, “Eligibility for Absentee Voting In West Virginia,” accessed June 30, 2025
  8. ↑ West Virginia Secretary of State, “Absentee Voting Information,” accessed June 30, 2025
  9. ↑ West Virginia Secretary of State, "You Have the Right to Vote in West Virginia Once You Complete Your Sentence," accessed June 30, 2025
  10. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Felon Voting Rights," accessed June 30, 2025
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