How to vote in West Virginia
West Virginia voter registration guide
West Virginia voter registration deadlines
- Register to vote (online): 21 days before Election Day
- Register to vote (by mail): Received 21 days before Election Day
- Register to vote (in person): 21 days before Election Day
Check your West Virginia voter registration status
- If you can't remember if you're registered to vote, or you want to make sure your information is correct, you can check your West Virginia registration using the West Virginia voter registration lookup site.
- If you're not registered to vote, or you need to update your voter registration information, follow the instructions below.
West Virginia voter registration rules
To register in West Virginia you must:
- be a citizen of the United States
- live in West Virginia and in the county in which you are registering
- be 18 years old by Election Day. If you are 17, you may vote in a primary if you will turn 18 by the General Election
- if you have been convicted of a felony, election bribery, or treason, you must have completed your sentence, including probation and parole
- not be under conviction, probation, or parole for a felony, treason, or election bribery
- not have been judged mentally incompetent by a court of competent jurisdiction
West Virginia online voter registration
- You can register to vote online if you have a West Virginia driver license, driver permit, or nondriver photo ID card.
- Visit the West Virginia online voter registration site.
- Fill out all the required fields.
- You will be registered to vote as soon as you finish the workflow.
- You should receive your voter registration card in the mail within 2-3 weeks. If not, you might want to follow up with your local election office.
- The deadline to register to vote online is 21 days before Election Day .
West Virginia by-mail voter registration
- Download and fill out the National Voter Registration Form.
- Box 6 - ID Number: Enter your WV driver’s license number. If you do not have a driver’s license number, enter the last four numbers of your social security number. If you do not have either of these numbers, write NONE on the form.
- Box 7 - Choice of Party: You should register with a party if you want to take part in that party’s primary election, caucus, or convention. It is up to the party to decide if it will let independents vote in their primaries.
- Box 8 - Race or Ethnic Group: Leave blank.
- Print, date, and sign the form. If you do not have a printer, you can print the form out at any local library. If you do not have a stamp, you can buy one from any grocery store: just ask the cashier to sell you one.
- Mail your voter registration form to the mailing address below. For faster delivery, send the form directly to your local election office.
- Your voter registration form must be received 21 days before Election Day .
West Virginia in-person voter registration
- Contact your local election office to find where to register to vote in person.
- Bring your West Virginia driver's license or state ID card with you. If you don't have one, bring ONE photo ID that shows your name, and ONE document that shows your name and West Virginia address. Acceptable documents include a utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, residential lease, or any government document that shows your name and address.
West Virginia same day registration
Registering to vote in West Virginia with a felony conviction
If you have been convicted of a felony and would like to register to vote, please visit Restore Your Vote. They will help you determine your eligibility and guide you through the process.
West Virginia absentee and mail ballot guide
West Virginia absentee ballot overview
Absentee ballots and mail ballots are the same thing, and the process for getting one is straight forward.
- Request your ballot by the deadline
- Receive your in ballot in the mail
- Return your ballot by the deadline
West Virginia absentee deadlines
- Earliest day to apply: January 1
- Request deadline (online): 6 days before Election Day
- Request deadline (by mail): Received 6 days before Election Day
- Request deadline (in person): 6 days before Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (by mail): Postmarked by Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (in person): Received by 1 day BEFORE Election Day
West Virginia absentee ballot rules
You may vote using an absentee ballot in West Virginia if:
- you have an illness, injury, disability, or another medical issue that makes it hard to vote in person
- you are elderly
- you have to work during polling hours
- you will be away from home on Election Day and during the early voting period
- you are a student attending school outside of your county
- you are currently incarcerated or under home detention but have not been convicted of any felony, treason, or election bribery
West Virginia online ballot request (recommended)
- Visit the West Virginia absentee ballot website.
- Fill out all of the required information.
- Hit save or submit when you are done.
- The deadline to apply online is 6 days before Election Day .
West Virginia by-mail ballot request
- Download the West Virginia absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Print the application.
- Sign and date your application. This is very important.
- Mail or hand-deliver your completed application directly to your local election office as soon as possible, but no later than the deadline.
- If it’s close to the deadline, call your local election office and see if they will let you submit your application via email or fax.
- Your application must be received 6 days before Election Day .
West Virginia in-person ballot request
- Visit your local election office.
- Ask the clerk to give you an absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Sign and date your application.
- The deadline to apply in person is 6 days before Election Day .
After you receive your ballot
- Carefully read and follow the instructions, and fill out all required fields.
- Sign and date the outside envelope.
- Mail or hand-deliver your ballot to your local election office. You can also hand-deliver your ballot to a state-provided drop box. Please check with your local election office if your county has a drop box. You can use our Find Out Where To Vote tool to find an official drop box.
- If you mail your ballot, it must be postmarked by Election Day .
- If you hand-deliver your ballot, it must be received by 1 day BEFORE Election Day .
- If you miss the deadline – or forget to sign the outside envelope – your vote will not be counted.
West Virginia absentee ballot ID requirements
- ID required when requesting a mail-in ballot: * Online application: you must provide your West Virginia driver's license number, state ID number, or the last 4 digits of your social security number. * Paper application: the signature on your absentee ballot application will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match.
- ID required when returning a mail-in ballot: Your voted ballot must be signed by one witness who is at least 18 years old. Additionally, if you are a first time voter you must send a copy of a valid photo ID that shows your name and address. If you do not have a valid ID, you can send a copy of a utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or other official government document that contains your name and address.
West Virginia early voting guide
West Virginia early voting dates
- Early voting starts: 13 days before Election Day
- Early voting ends: 3 days before Election Day
What to bring
You must show ID at the polls. Acceptable forms of photo ID include a non-expired ID issued by any state or the Federal Government, or a student ID issued by any accredited college or university. If you don't have a photo ID, you can a utility bill, bank statement, paystub, Social Security card, voter registration card, birth certificate, Medicare or Medicaid card, SNAP or TANF card, bank or debit card, health insurance card, or any government document that shows your name and address. However, if you are a first time voter you can only show a non-expired photo ID, utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other official government document that shows your name and address. If you can not show a valid ID you can still vote using a provisional ballot.
West Virginia voter ID guide
ID requirements for voting in person
You must show ID at the polls. Acceptable forms of photo ID include a non-expired ID issued by any state or the Federal Government, or a student ID issued by any accredited college or university. If you don't have a photo ID, you can a utility bill, bank statement, paystub, Social Security card, voter registration card, birth certificate, Medicare or Medicaid card, SNAP or TANF card, bank or debit card, health insurance card, or any government document that shows your name and address. However, if you are a first time voter you can only show a non-expired photo ID, utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other official government document that shows your name and address. If you can not show a valid ID you can still vote using a provisional ballot.
ID requirements when requesting an absentee or mail ballot
- Online application: you must provide your West Virginia driver's license number, state ID number, or the last 4 digits of your social security number.
- Paper application: the signature on your absentee ballot application will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match.
ID requirements when returning an absentee or mail ballot
Your voted ballot must be signed by one witness who is at least 18 years old. Additionally, if you are a first time voter you must send a copy of a valid photo ID that shows your name and address. If you do not have a valid ID, you can send a copy of a utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or other official government document that contains your name and address.
ID requirements to register to vote online
You can register to vote online if you have a West Virginia driver license, driver permit, or nondriver photo ID card.
Local election office
Contact your local election office if you have questions.
Statewide election office
This is the statewide agency that is ultimately responsible for West Virginia elections. You can contact them with questions, but your local election office will probably respond faster.
Secretary of State Building 1, Suite 157‐K 1900 Kanawha Blvd. East Charleston, WV 25305‐0770
External resources
- West Virginia online voter registration
- West Virginia online absentee ballot request
- West Virginia voter status lookup
- West Virginia absentee ballot tracker
- West Virginia provisional ballot tracker
- West Virginia polling place locator