We are living in a very challenging time for our democracy, where voters and state elections are facing unrelenting, unprecedented threats from the Trump administration. Thanks to our partners and voting rights organizations, efforts to undermine the election are failing.
Despite all the work being done to stop the harm—even when challenges to these attacks succeed in court—the confusion they create and the mistrust they sow still do real damage. That’s one reason we wanted to host this webinar.
However, we also know that lack of knowledge can feed into the mistrust because people aren’t aware of all of the protections built into the electoral process—and there are numerous state laws and processes in place to ensure that our elections are safe, secure, and accurate and that voters have confidence in the results.
Roles and Responsibilities of State and Local Officials
Who oversees election administration in WV? Who actually puts on the elections?
The Secretary of State serves as West Virginia’s chief elections officer:
-
- They oversee the election process statewide, provide resources and support to local officials who run elections, and ensure they are conducted in accordance with state and federal laws.
- The Secretary of State’s Office has an entire Elections Division. (Powers and duties vested in the Secretary of State may be exercised by appointees at their discretion, but the Secretary is responsible for their acts.)
- They also employ investigators to look into allegations of fraud and irregularities in election administration, voter registration and other election law violations, as well as complaints from members of the public regarding disenfranchisement and intimidation. Investigators refer violations to the appropriate prosecuting officials when warranted.
County Clerks and Commissions are the local elected officials who actually run the elections:
-
- They provide the supplies needed to hold elections and certify the results (including poll books, tally sheets, ballot boxes, voting booths, registration records, forms, etc.)
- Arrange polling places and equipment (including voting machines)
- Coordinate with county executive committees (as required by law) to appoint election workers and ensure fair, balanced representation of political parties.
- Serve as the Board of Canvassers, which reviews election results before certification.
Poll workers are the real heroes of our elections:
-
- In every election, election administrators need poll workers to keep polling places open, help their neighbors vote, and ensure every voter has access to the ballot box. If you’ve been a poll worker—Thank you!
- West Virginia has more than 1,600 voting precincts that require more than 8,400 trained poll workers on Election Day. Poll workers are key to making sure elections run smoothly and are free, fair, and accessible.
- Poll workers are volunteers, but they are paid for both attending a training class and working the polls.
- Duties can include delivering election supplies to and setting up polling places, greeting voters, verifying voter identities and registrations, issuing ballots, and securing the materials after polls close.
- Being a poll worker is one of the most effective ways to support democracy and gain first-hand experience with how elections work.
- Learn about being a poll worker. Help needed in the following counties: Berkeley, Brooke, Clay, Doddridge, Fayette, Hardy, Jefferson (Democrats specifically), Lincoln, Logan, Ohio, Tyler, Wayne, and Wood.
Processes and Procedures of Concern for Voters
These are all processes and procedures where the vulnerabilities have been well thought out, where there are multiple levels of security to address them, and where there are multiple people — usually dedicated public servants, but sometimes you, the voters — verifying and confirming accuracy and working hard to make sure the election goes smoothly.
Voter List Maintenance or the removal of ineligible voters from active voter registration rolls.
- Election-related responsibility of County Clerks and the Secretary of State that happens in odd years between elections.
- The concern comes in because list maintenance is sometimes more commonly referred to as voter roll purges. People are right to be concerned because those who want to silence certain voices in other states have exploited this process for political gain. In West Virginia, the Legislature has made it easier to remove “inactive” voters from the rolls if they miss or skip an election.
- Voter rolls must be up to date and accurate. People move, people die, and we’ve always had a process on the books that allows for the removal of these voters, as well as people who become ineligible for some other reason (like a felony conviction). That doesn’t mean mistakes don’t happen. The best way to make sure you don’t miss the chance to make your voice heard is to check and, if needed, update your registration before every election. It’s easy at GoVoteWV.com, where you’ll find several helpful online voter tools.
From an election security standpoint, one concern is voting machine tampering, but there’s no reason to believe it can or will happen.
- All states, including West Virginia, have strict chain-of-custody and tight physical-security requirements for voting equipment to prevent tampering. When a county commission acquires a voting system, all the equipment remains in the county clerk’s custody at all times except when used at an election. The clerk must ensure the equipment is properly protected, kept in good repair, and free from unauthorized access.
- West Virginia voting systems and components are non-networked and are not connected to the internet at any time.
- In each election, logic and accuracy tests are conducted on voting machines, and testing is subject to public notice and inspection.
- State law also requires all voting systems to generate a paper copy of your choices so you can verify your votes are properly recorded. These Voter Verified Paper Ballots are stored for recounts or random checks, including a hand count audit conducted by the board of canvassers after each election. They can be used to verify the results even if something happens to the machines.
When it comes to casting ballots and how people vote, we also understand many people have specific concerns about absentee voting by mail.
- In West Virginia, absentee ballots account for about 2% of ballots cast in most elections; that’s partly because only certain people are eligible to vote by mail. They include those on military duty or traveling, first responders who can’t vote in person because of emergency calls, and people with mobility issues or illness. People confined in jails who have not been convicted of a crime are also eligible to vote absentee.
- Applying for and receiving an absentee ballot isn’t automatic or automated—actual humans verify eligibility. Strong security measures protect against tampering and voter impersonation. This is true for all types of ballots, no matter how you cast your vote, but it’s safe to say vote-by-mail ballots receive extra scrutiny to protect voters and the integrity of the electoral process.
- Just because it’s not widely used, and just because it’s been the subject of attacks by the President, doesn’t change the fact that it’s safe and reliable. So if you’re eligible to vote absentee—if it’s the best or only option for you—DO IT! Whatever it takes. Request your ballot now and return it as soon as possible. The deadline to apply for an absentee ballot is Oct. 28, but don’t wait!
Post-Election Audit or Canvass (Canvassing Manual)
- Results are never final on Election Day. Our state and local election officials do an amazing job and can usually deliver preliminary results on election night, but what matters most is that all votes are counted and everyone’s voice is heard.
- In West Virginia, a post-election canvass is required to review all the materials and equipment used in an election. The canvass identifies irregularities or misconduct in vote counting, ensures votes were recorded and tallied accurately, and, as noted earlier, ensures the integrity and accuracy of vote-tabulating devices and software before certification.
- The canvass is open to all candidates or their representatives, representatives of political parties and members of the general public. The canvass is held on the 5th day after the election, excluding Sundays. This year, the county boards of canvassers will meet on Nov. 9, and like serving as a poll worker, attending the canvass is another great way to gain first-hand experience on how elections work.
Conclusion: This is just a snapshot of some of the processes and protections in place to ensure that our elections are safe, secure, and accurate. We know there’s a lot of work to be done to strengthen our democracy and get us on a better path, but our guardrails have held so far. In the immediate short term, the most important thing we can do and the best deterrent to election interference and sabotage is showing up.
Make a plan to vote. Vote early if possible. Help others vote by volunteering to be a poll worker. Report any voter intimidation or problems at the polls and let others know how they can protect their vote by sharing information and resources.
Key 2026 Dates and Deadlines for Administrators and Voters:
- October 13: Voter Registration Deadline
- October 21 – October 31: Early Voting in Person
- October 27 – Noon, November 3: Emergency Absentee Voting
- Qualified voters in the county may be eligible to receive an emergency absentee ballot in certain circumstances.
- October 28: Deadline for Absentee Ballot Applications
- October 31: Last Day of Early Voting in Person
- November 2: Deadline to Hand-Deliver Absentee Ballot to the Clerk’s Office
- November 3: ELECTION DAY – Absentee Ballots Received Electronically from Eligible Military and Overseas Voters & Voters with Physical Disabilities Accepted
- November 4: Absentee Ballots without Postmark Accepted
- November 9: Canvass – Absentee Ballots Postmarked by Election Day Accepted
