West Virginians: Are you registered to vote? Check now!
The deadline to register to vote, or update your registration, is April 23. Let's talk about why it's important to check your registration and how to update it before it's too late!
The West Virginia primary election is on May 14–less than a month away at the time of publication. If you want to have your voice heard you need to take five minutes to check your voter registration status.
Residents eligible to vote have until April 23 to register to vote, or update their registration.
It’s only the primary, though. I’ll have another chance to vote, right? WRONG! …partially.
Partisan races–like races for president, Congress, and the West Virginia Legislature–are selecting nominees this May who will compete in November during the general election.
However, nonpartisan races–like county magistrates, circuit court judges, appeals court judges, and municipal races–will decide their winners on May 14. You only have one chance to vote in these races.
Often, these nonpartisan races have a much greater influence on your day-to-day life as compared to statewide or federal offices. For example, your city council meets year-round while your state legislator only meets for two months. If you or your loved one gets arrested it will be a magistrate judge or circuit court judge hearing that case. Who holds these offices matters a lot.
So, how can you register to vote? It’s simple and you have a few options.
Thanks to modern technology you can register to vote, update your address, or change your party registration from the comfort of your home using a computer or smartphone! All you need to do is visit the Secretary of State’s website. Make sure you have your state-issued ID and the last four digits of your social security number!
If you’re old school you can use the same link to fill out a voter registration application online, print it, and mail it to your county clerk’s office. Or, you can show up in person and apply on site! (But trust me, the online application is convenient, secure, and expeditious.)
To find where your county clerk office is visit this site, click on your county, and identify where your county seat is. County clerks are often located inside your county courthouse.
Are you already registered to vote? Are you sure? It’s always better to be safe than sorry! You can use this link on the Secretary of State’s website to verify that you are, indeed, registered. All you need is your first name, last name, and birth date. (Sorry, there’s no link I can provide to help you find that information.)
Why should you check your voter registration?
Well the obvious answer is to make sure you’re actually registered, but it’s also useful to check what party you’re registered to vote with.
West Virginia has a semi-open primary system. This means registered Democratic voters can only vote for Democratic and nonpartisan candidates during the primary. If you’re registered as a Republican voter you can only vote for Republican and nonpartisan candidates. The same goes for Mountain and Libertarian party members, too.
If you’re registered as an Unaffiliated or Independent voter you have options! When you show up to vote on May 14 you can choose which ballot you want, a Democratic, Republican, or non-partisan only ticket.
This is important to remember as each election there are reports of independent voters being denied a party ballot by election workers. This is against the law. Independent voters have an absolute right (as of 2024) to participate in the Democratic or Republican primary if they so choose. You simply need to request the ballot of your choice when checking in at your poll site.
If you are denied a ballot on election day call (304) 558-6000, the West Virginia Secretary of State Office’s fraud hotline, and report the issue.
You should also confirm that the address on your voter registration card is accurate. Voters are required to provide identification when they vote. If the address on your ID does not match your voter registration information you may be denied a ballot or asked to vote a provisional ballot.
Let’s recap what we’ve covered.
May 14 is the West Virginia primary election. The deadline to register to vote is April 23. If you aren’t registered you can visit this link on the Secretary of State’s website to apply. If you are registered, or think you are, you can visit this link on the Secretary of State’s website to check.
Even if you are registered it’s important to ensure your address is up-to-date and to check which party you registered with. These changes must be made by April 23.
So, West Virginia, the time is now! Have your voice heard on May 14 by registering to vote or verifying and updating your registration. Several races will be decided during the primary election. If you don’t vote you give up your power, your voice, in our democracy.
In future articles Wheeling Free Press will explain the early voting timeline, who is on the ballot, how to find your polling location, and more election-related information. Subscribe for free (or paid) so you don’t miss a thing!