Register or check your record
The voter registration deadline is October 13. Use the Secretary of State's official tool to register, check registration, or locate a polling place.
Official voter resources
Make your West Virginia voting plan
Register by October 13. Early voting runs October 21 through October 31. The absentee application deadline is October 28. Election Day is November 3, with polls open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
First steps
Start with these three actions
Vote early in person
Early voting runs October 21 through October 31 at county courthouses, annexes, or approved community locations. Check the official location list and local hours before traveling.
Apply for and return an absentee ballot
Eligible voters may apply from August 11 through October 28. Return rules differ for hand delivery, electronic ballots, mailed ballots without a postmark, and mailed ballots postmarked by Election Day.
October 13registration deadline
October 21early voting begins
October 28absentee application deadline
November 3General Election Day
Election timeline
Voter registration deadline
A voter registration application must meet the official deadline for the November general election.
Early voting begins
County early voting begins. Locations are generally open during normal business hours, with required Saturday hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Absentee application deadline
The county clerk must receive an eligible voter's absentee application by this date.
Early voting ends
October 31 is the final early voting day. Confirm the location and hours with the county clerk.
Hand-delivery deadline for absentee ballots
A voter or permitted person must hand-deliver the voted absentee ballot to the county clerk by this date under the official return rules.
General Election Day and electronic absentee deadline
Polls are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Eligible military, overseas, and certain voters with physical disabilities using electronic absentee voting must submit the ballot by the close of polls.
No-postmark mailed absentee deadline
A mailed absentee ballot with no postmark must reach the county clerk by this date.
Postmarked mailed absentee deadline
A mailed absentee ballot postmarked by Election Day must reach the county clerk by this date.
Check the current rule: West Virginia requires a valid, unexpired photo ID for in-person early voting and Election Day voting unless an official exception applies. Accepted identification includes specified government, student, military, passport, voter registration, and religious-objection credentials. Absentee-by-mail voters and some other voters are exempt. Review the Secretary of State's current list and exception procedures before voting.
1 statewide constitutional amendment
The Secretary of State's official public notice confirms one statewide constitutional amendment on the November 3 ballot. Read the official notice and ballot language before voting.
- Amendment 1: Citizenship Requirement to Vote in West Virginia Elections AmendmentThe official summary says the amendment would provide that, in all elections held in West Virginia, only United States citizens who are citizens of the state are qualified to vote.
0 statewide judicial contests on the general election ballot
West Virginia law holds Supreme Court of Appeals and Intermediate Court of Appeals nonpartisan elections on the primary election date. The official 2026 General Candidate Listing contains no statewide judicial contest. District judicial elections appearing in the general roster are outside this statewide guide.
Open the West Virginia judicial election scheduleUse the official GoVoteWV hub
GoVoteWV links registration, polling-place, early voting, absentee, voter identification, sample-ballot, candidate, and county clerk resources. Local ballot styles vary.
Open GoVoteWVOfficial voter links
GoVoteWVOfficial 2026 election dates and links to voter tools, candidate listings, sample ballots, and county resources.Election FAQsOfficial registration, early voting, absentee, polling-hour, and Election Day answers.Registration and polling-place toolOfficial registration, voter-record, and polling-place lookup.Early voting locationsOfficial county early voting locations and local contact information.Absentee voting informationOfficial eligibility, application, tracking, and ballot-return guidance.Photo identification guidanceOfficial current photo ID requirements, accepted credentials, and exceptions.
Dates checked October 1, 2026. Confirm them at the linked official source.