Voting in West Virginia

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COVID-19 UPDATE: All voters are currently eligible to vote absentee, as "Illness, injury or other medical reason" includes concerns for COVID-19.

Voters can only vote absentee/by mail in West Virginia with an approved excuse. Approved excuses include:
- Illness, injury or other medical reason
- Disability or 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
- Participation in the Address Confidentiality Program (ACP)
- Membership, or the spouse or dependent a member of the United States uniformed services and Merchant Marines on active duty

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

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.