Election Day · Tuesday, November 3, 2026
How to vote in West Virginia
The deadlines, early voting, mail ballots and ID rules for West Virginia, and what happens after the polls close. Every fact links to the West Virginia Secretary of State or the law it comes from. Rules change, and courts sometimes change them close to an election, so confirm anything you are relying on with the state.
Checked against official sources on October 8.
Key dates
- Register online by
Tuesday, October 13
Register online at ovr.sos.wv.gov.
- Register by mail by
Tuesday, October 13
The state lists October 13 as the registration deadline.
- Register in person by
Tuesday, October 13
At your county clerk's office.
- Early voting
Wednesday, October 21 to Saturday, October 31
- How early voting works
Vote early at the county courthouse, an annex or a designated community voting location during normal business hours, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the last two Saturdays before the election. Bring a photo ID.
- Request a mail ballot by
Wednesday, October 28
Received, not postmarked: your county clerk must receive the application by October 28 (the sixth day before the election), by mail, fax, email or in person. Emergency absentee ballots are available from October 27 to noon on Election Day for hospitalization and similar cases.
- Return your mail ballot by
Tuesday, November 3
Postmarked by Election Day and received by the start of canvass (November 9). Hand-delivered ballots must reach the county clerk by November 2, the day before the election. Ballots with no postmark are accepted only if received by November 4.
- Election Day polling hours
6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Voting by mail
- Who can vote by mail
You need a reason to vote by mail
Absentee by mail is by application only, for voters who meet the state's eligibility rules (the full list is in the state's 'Eligibility For Absentee Voting' document, not read here).
- Ballots arriving after Election Day
Yes
Yes: postmarked by Election Day and received by November 9. Unpostmarked ballots count only if received by November 4.
ID at the polls
- The rule
Not confirmed yet — check with the West Virginia Secretary of State.
- What to bring
Bring a valid, unexpired photo ID such as a West Virginia or out-of-state driver's license or state ID, a U.S. passport or passport card, a government employee ID, a U.S. military ID, a West Virginia college or high school student ID, or a voter registration card with photo. Voters 65 and older may use one that expired after their 65th birthday. A free voter ID card is available at your county clerk's office. Without ID, you vote a provisional ballot. Mail ballots don't need ID.
When will we know results in West Virginia?
How fast results come in depends mostly on when the polls close and when election officials are allowed to start on mail ballots. Totals shown on election night are unofficial until the state certifies them.
- Last polls close
7:30 p.m. Eastern time
- Counties finish their count by
Monday, November 9
County canvass begins in most counties five days after Election Day, excluding Sundays.
What’s on your ballot
Every contest you will vote on, from Congress to school board, with each candidate’s positions and record and the arguments for and against them.
Confirm this with the official source
Your ballot is determined by your election authority, not by us. Verify your registration, precinct, and sample ballot at West Virginia Secretary of State.