Voter Registration FAQ

As stated by West Virginia Code, you are eligible to vote in West Virginia if you are:

A resident of West Virginia and the county in which you register.
A U.S. Citizen.
At least 17 years old, and 18 before the next General Election. (Seventeen year olds may register and vote in primary elections, if they turn 18 by the next General Election.)
Not currently under conviction for a felony, including probation or parole, or a court ruling of mental incompetence. Voting rights are restored when the term of conviction ends.

When can I register, and is there a deadline?

You may register at any time. However, to be eligible to vote in a specific election, you must register 21 days before that election.

How do I register?

In Person: You may register in person at the office of the Secretary of State. You may also receive and submit your voter registration form at any of the offices listed below. Be sure to bring proof of physical address (a current and valid photo ID, utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or other government document).
By Mail: You may request an application from your County Clerk or the Secretary of State, or you may download the mail-in application form. Return completed voter registration forms to your County Clerk's office.
You cannot complete your voter registration completely online.
If you are unsure of your registration status, check it now!

How can I obtain additional voter registration applications?

You can obtain voter registration applications for a voter registration drive by contacting our office and submitting a Mail-In Voter Registration Request Form. A printable version of the Mail-In Voter Registration Drive Request form is also available and can be duplicated and used as many times as needed.
Up to 200 Mail-In Voter Registration Forms will be available per organization at one time.
The following information is required for requests of 10 or more forms:
- Name of individual / organization requesting forms.
- Name of contact person.
- Address (if to be mailed).
- Amount to be picked up or mailed.
- Date of drive.
- Location of drive.

After I register, what do I do next?

If you registered in person at the County Clerk's office and have your voter registration card, make sure that you know where your precinct voting place is located.
If you registered at an agency or by mail, you should receive your voter registration card in the mail from your County Clerk within 8 to 10 days.
If you registered by mail, remember to take a current and valid photo ID, utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document the first time you vote.
If you change your name, residence or political party, file these changes to your voter registration with your County Clerk.

How do I update my registration?

If you are moving within your county, or change your name, you can update your registration in one of these ways:
- At your County Clerk's office or other voter registration locations.
- By mail, using the regular mail-in voter registration application.
- At your polling place, if you have not changed precincts.
- At your new polling place if you have moved to a new precinct. This will require you to vote a provisional ballot since your registration will not be available to check.
If you move to another county in West Virginia, you must register in that county.

How do I change political parties?

West Virginia has a closed primary, meaning that if you are a member of one of the major parties (Democratic, Mountain, Republican, or Libertarian) you may only vote the ballot of the party in which you are registered.
All of the major parties in West Virginia allow members of minor parties and unaffiliated voters to vote their ballots upon request.
A party change must be filed by the close of registration (21 days) before a Primary for you to be eligible to vote the ballot for the new party. For more information, see Political Party FAQ.
You may change your party at your County Clerk's office, at other registration locations, or by mail using the regular mail-in voter registration form.

Can my voter registration information be kept private?

Most voter registration information is considered to be public record. Certain elements of your information are kept private by law:
- Telephone number
- Social Security number
- Driver's license number or Non-Operator's ID card number
- Email address
Through the Address Confidentiality Program, you can register to vote without using your home address §48-28A-101.

Are Homeless persons eligible to register to vote?

In the case of a homeless person having no permanent residence address, but nevertheless residing and remaining regularly within the county, the address of a shelter, assistance center or family member with whom he or she has regular contact can be used to establish a voting residence. §3-2-5.