West Virginia

Election Day (November 5, 2024): Polls are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Election Day, or until the last person in line at 7:30 p.m. has voted.

Absentee voters:If by hand delivery, absentee ballots must be delivered to the County Clerk’s office by the day before Election Day. If by mail, unless the voter is a military or overseas voter, the ballot must be mailed and postmarked by Election Day and received by the start of Canvass (the fifth day after the general election excluding Sundays).

How to Find Your Polling Place: Visit West Virginia Secretary of State’s polling place locator webpage to determine where you vote.

Registration Deadlines

• For registration deadlines, see How to Register below.

How to Check Your Registration: Voters can determine whether they are registered to vote at the following link: Am I Registered?.

You are eligible to vote in West Virginia if you:

• at 17 years of age provided you will be 18 by the next general election.
• Are a U.S. citizen

17 year olds may vote in primary elections if they will be 18 by the date of the general election

You are NOT eligible to vote in West Virginia if:

• You have been legally declared “mentally incompetent” by a court
• You are serving a sentence which includes any period of incarceration, parole and probation, following a conviction for either a felony, treason, or bribery in an election

Restorative Requirements

• If you have completed a felony sentence, including any term of incarceration, parole, supervision, period of probation, or you have been pardoned, then you are immediately eligible to register to vote

You may preregister to vote in West Virginia

• at 17 years of age provided you will be 18 by the next general election.

How to register 

West Virginia residents can register to vote online, by mail, or in person. Voter registration application forms and accompanying instructions can be found on West Virginia’s Voter Registration Website.

Voters seeking to register prior to the election must do so no less than 21 days before the date of election.

If it is the voter’s first time registering to vote in West Virginia or in their county and they have not voted in a federal election in West Virginia, they must show a valid ID if they register to vote in person, or the first time they vote.  If they are registering by mail, the voter must send a copy of a valid ID.

West Virginian law does not define the period of residency for voter registration. Applicants are asked on the voter registration application to provide their residence address in West Virginia, sign an oath affirming that they meet the legal qualifications to register and vote, and to provide a document that shows voter’s current name and address (e.g. driver’s license, utility bill, paycheck, etc.). Registering with the voter’s driver’s license is the fastest way.

If You Want to Vote Absentee, requests may be made:

• In-Person
• By Mail
• By Fax
• By Email
• Phone

Absentee Ballots may be returned:

• In-Person
• By Mail

Early Voting

Early voting in West Virginia begins 13 days before Election Day and ends 3 days before Election Day (October 23, 2024 to November 2, 2024 for the November 5, 2024 general election). Early voting takes place at the county courthouse, judicial annex, or designated voting location. Voting takes place during the location’s normal business hours, Monday through Friday. Voters should call their county clerk to confirm early voting hours. Early voting is also held the last two Saturdays before Election Day (October 26, 2024 and November 2, 2024 for the November 5, 2024 general election). 

Absentee Ballot Rules and Deadlines:

• Voters who meet the eligibility requirements may apply for absentee ballots beginning on the 84^th day before the general election. When requesting an absentee ballot, the voter must provide the following voter and absentee ballot request information:
  • Full name; 
  • The voter’s current West Virginia residence address including the street, city, county and zip code; 
  • Date of birth;
  • The mailing address where the absentee ballot should be mailed;
  • The reason why the voter is applying for a paper ballot; 
  • The election for which the absentee ballot is requested; and 
  • A statement that the voter is eligible to vote in the election.
• An absentee ballot must be received by the County Clerk by:
  • The day before Election Day if hand-delivered;
  • Mailed and postmarked by Election Day and received by the start of Canvass, five days after the election excluding Sunday, if mailed. 

How to Request an Absentee Ballot: he voter may download an Absentee Ballot Application to request an absentee ballot and mail, fax, email or return it by hand to their county clerk. The voter may also call their County Clerk to have an Absentee Ballot Application mailed to them.

• By Phone – Call your county clerk. 
• By Mail – Print and fill out the application form and mail to your county clerk.
• By Email – Print and fill out the application form and email to the county clerk at elections@wvsos.gov. Put “Absentee Ballot Request” in the subject line.
• In Person – Request an absentee ballot in person at your county clerk’s office.

How to Receive the Absentee Ballot:

• County Clerks begin mailing absentee ballots on the 46th day before the election to all voters who are eligible and have requested a mailed absentee ballot. 

How to Return the Completed Absentee Ballot: 

• Voters may return absentee ballots to the County Clerk as soon as possible after receiving the ballot. 
• Ballots may be returned to the county clerk in the following ways:
  • In Person: The voter may bring their completed absentee ballot in the appropriate envelope to their county clerk’s office by the day before Election Day. 

By Mail: Mail the completed absentee ballot in the provided envelope to the county clerk’s office. The ballot must be mailed and postmarked by Election Day and received by the start of Canvass, five days after Election Day excluding Sunday.

Voter Registration

To register to vote in West Virginia you should provide one of the following:

• Last Four Digits of your Social Security Number
• Your West Virginia Driver’s License Number
• Your West Virginia ID Number

If you are registering to vote for the first time by mail, you will need to provide a copy of a valid ID. If you registered to vote for the first time in West Virginia or your county, and you have not voted in a federal election in this state, you must show a valid ID with your voter registration application or the first time you vote. Acceptable forms of ID include:

• Current and Valid Photo ID
• Utility Bill, Bank Statement, Government Check, or Paycheck that Shows your current name and address
• Government Issued Document that shows your current name and address

You can alternatively show one of these documents when you vote to complete your registration.

Voting In-Person

In West Virginia, you are required to show voter ID which is valid and not expired. You can use any ID from this list:

• Utility Bill
• Bank Statement
• Government Issued Document that shows your Current Name and Address
• Hunting or Fishing ID
• Medicare or Medicaid Card issued by the government
• Social Security Card
• Birth Certificate
• Valid West Virginia Voter ID Card
• Insurance Plan ID Card
• Utility Bill
• Valid Federal issued ID
• Valid Student ID
• Valid West Virginia issued ID
• Valid West Virginia Driver’s License
• SNAP ID
• TANF ID card
• License to Carry Concealed Weapon or Firearm
• Valid US Passport

Utility and bank statements should be from within six months of the Election. First time voters without valid id will be issued a provisional ballot. There are three exceptions to the id requirement: 1. Signed, Sworn Statement by an Adult with ID who has Known the Voter for 6 Months or More 2. A Poll Worker Knows the Voter 3. Residents of State Care Facilities

Voters who do not have one of the required documents in the list above can obtain a West Virginia Identification Card from the Division of Motor Vehicles. Click here for more information. 

Registered voters can also apply for a free Voter ID Card from their county clerk. Click here to find your nearest office.

All voters must show an approved form of identification at the polls during early voting or on election day. 

Voters who have voted in West Virginia for a federal election or provided ID at the time of voter registration do not need to provide ID to mail in their absentee ballots. 

If the voter is voting via absentee ballot, voting in West Virginia for the first time, and did not provide an ID when they registered, the voter must enclose a copy of a valid ID with their ballot. To be accepted, a valid ID must show the voter’s current name and address. Valid forms of ID include:

• Valid photo ID 
• Utility bill
• Bank statement
• Government check
• Paycheck 
• Any other government document 

Acceptable forms of Photo ID include a driver’s license issued by another state, a student ID card, and a concealed carry (pistol/revolver) permit.

All forms of ID must be valid and not expired for both in-person voting and mail-in ballots. 

Voters who do not have valid ID while voting may cast a provisional ballot. While provisional ballots are not included in Election Day results, they are considered at Canvass, which takes place on the fifth day after an election (excluding Sunday). Signatures on the provisional ballot and voter registration form are compared. If the signatures match, the vote should be counted. 

Voters can learn either that their provisional ballot was counted or the reason why it was not counted by calling West Virginia’s Secretary of State Office toll-free at 1-866-767-VOTE (1-866-767-8683) or their county clerk’s office or searching the West Virginia’s Secretary of State Provisional Ballot Search.

There are three exceptions to the voter ID requirement.

• Signed and sworn statement by an adult who has known the voter for 6 months or more and shows a photo ID with his or her name and address; 
• Poll worker has known the voter at least 6 months
• Residents of licensed WV state care facilities do not have to show ID to vote if: The voter is a resident of the care facility; The care facility is a polling place; and The resident’s polling place is located at the care facility.

To register to vote in an election, voters must register at least 21 days before the date of the election.

Moving within the Same County

If the voter has changed addresses since registering to vote and the voter’s new address is within the same county, the voter should update their voter information with their County Clerk’s office prior to the election. If the voter has not done so, the voter will be required to complete a change of address form at their polling place corresponding to their new address before voting. Voters will be able to cast a challenged or provisional ballot, which will be counted if the voter is found in the county’s registration records during the canvass.

Moving Between Counties

If the voter has moved addresses and their new address is in a different county, the voter will need to re-register at their polling place corresponding to their new address before voting. Voters who have not updated their voter registration should go to the polling place corresponding with their new address and complete a change of address form. It is unclear whether voters will be able to cast a challenged or provisional ballot, but the ballot will likely not be counted.

Voting Military

Service members and their dependents may register and request a ballot using the federal voter registration/ballot request form (“FPCA”). You will have the following identification options when completing the form:

• U.S. State or Territory or District Issued ID
• Option to Indicate that you do not have the Requested ID
• Last 4 Digits of your Social Security Number

Your state does not require an ID to be provided in order to register your ballot.

Voting Overseas

U.S. citizens living overseas may register and request a ballot using the overseas voter registration/ballot request form. You will have the following identification options when completing the form:

• U.S. State or Territory or District Issued ID
• Option to Indicate that you do not have the Requested ID
• Last 4 Digits of your Social Security Number

Your state does not require an ID to be provided in order to register your ballot.

Military and other overseas citizens may use the standard procedure for absentee voting by mail, but there are also special provisions for members of the U.S. Armed Forces and Merchant Marine, commissioned corps of the Public Health Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, along with family members of all these groups, and other citizens who reside outside the United States (together these groups are called UOCAVA voters).

Registering and Requesting an Absentee Ballot

UOCAVA voters can use the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) to register to vote and request an absentee ballot. This form can also be used to update the voter’s contact information. The voter must complete a new FPCA each year and every time their address changes. Visit West Virginia’s Federal Voting Assistance Program webpage for more information.

West Virginia’s Voter Registration Form may also be used to register and will allow the voter to remain a permanent registered voter in West Virginia.

Receiving an Absentee Ballot

The voter may download an Absentee Ballot Application to request an absentee ballot and mail, fax, email or return it by hand to their county clerk. The voter may also call their County Clerk to have an Absentee Ballot Application mailed to them. 

Those on active duty in the Uniformed Services or Merchant Marine (or their spouses or dependents) may apply for an absentee ballot online here.

Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot

If UOCAVA voters have not received an absentee ballot 30 days before the election, they should complete and submit the Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot (FWAB), which is a backup ballot. The FWAB can be used whether the voter is located inside or outside the United States (including APO and FPO addresses), provided that the voter is away from their voting residence for service-related activities.  Voters must apply for a regular ballot early enough for their local election officials to receive the request at least 21 days before the election.  If the voter does not receive their regular ballot in time, they may use the FWAB.  Voter’s FWAB must be received by their local voting officials in West Virginia by Election Day if emailed or faxed and by start of canvass if mailed. For specific instructions, visit the FVAP’s West Virginia-specific FVAP page.  

West Virginian residents who have been convicted of a felony, treason, or bribery in an election will have their voter registration canceled and may not vote while they are serving a sentence, including any period of incarceration, parole, or probation. 

The voter’s registration is not automatically renewed after the sentence is completed. Individuals convicted of a felony regain their right to vote after all terms of incarceration, parole, and probation have been served. However, the voter’s registration is not automatically renewed. Felons must re-register to vote before participating in the next election.

Residents with misdemeanor convictions may still vote if all other voting requirements and registration are completed on time. 

For more information on voting rights and registering to vote after being convicted of a felony, visit West Virginia’s Secretary of State Felon Voting Rights.