Voting in West Virginia

You can search for your polling place here.

Voters can only vote absentee/by mail in West Virginia with an approved excuse.

West Virginia offers in-person early voting. No excuse is needed to vote early. Early voting begins 13 days before an election and ends 3 days before the election day.

West Virginia has semi-open primaries. Voters registered with a particular party may only vote in that party's primary, but unaffiliated voters may choose any primary ballot. 17-year-olds can vote in the primary election if they will be 18 by the corresponding general election.

ID is required to vote in West Virginia. Valid forms of ID include:
- Voter registration card
- Medicare card or Social Security card
- Birth certificate
- WV hunting or fishing license
- WV SNAP ID card
- WV TANF program ID card
- WV Medicaid ID card
- Bank or debit card
- Utility bill or bank statement issued within six months of the date of the election
- Health insurance card issued to the voter
- WV driver’s license or other WV ID card issued by the DMV
- Driver’s license issued by another state
- U.S. passport or passport card
- Military ID card issued by the U.S.
- U.S. or WV Government employee ID card
- Student ID card
- A concealed carry (pistol/revolver) permit

Exemptions to the ID requirement are:
1. Signed, sworn statement by an adult who has known the voter for 6 months or more
2. A poll worker knows the voter
3. Residents of State Care Facilities

If you do not have an approved form of ID, you can apply for a free Voter ID Card from your county clerk. Applications must be submitted in person at the county clerk’s office, and voters can choose to be mailed their Voter ID Card or pick them up at the county clerk’s office.

If you go to your polling place without an approved form of ID, you can vote a provisional ballot. Before canvass, the provisional ballot signature is compared to the voter’s registration signature. If the signatures match, the vote should count.