West Virginia

Exception 1. Signed, Sworn Statement by an Adult who has Known You for At Least 6 Months

You do not have to show an ID to vote if you are accompanied by an adult who:

1. Has known you for at least 6 months;
2. Shows a photo ID with his or her name and address; and
3. Signs an affidavit at the polling place confirming your identity.

Exception 2: A Poll Worker Knows You

You do not have to show ID to vote if a poll worker has known you for at least 6 months. No additional affidavit or ID is required.

Exception 3: Residents of State Care Facilities

Residents of licensed West Virginia state care facilities do not have to show ID to vote if:

1. You are a resident of the care facility;
2. The care facility is a polling place; and
3. The resident’s polling place is located at the care facility.

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Vote a provisional ballot if you cannot present ID or confirm your identity another way. (See the FAQ “Are there exceptions to West Virginia’s voter ID law?” for more info!) Provisional ballots make sure eligible voters are not rejected at the polls.

For your provisional ballot to count, your signature on the ballot envelope must match the signature in your voter registration record.

You can also return with an accepted ID before your polling place closes on Election Day, or bring it to your municipal clerk’s office by 4 pm on the Friday following the election. 

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West Virginia does not accept mobile or digital ID to vote. You cannot use an image or copy of your ID when you are voting in person.

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You do not need a “REAL ID” to vote in West Virginia.

REAL ID is a set of national security standards for states to follow when they issue driver’s licenses and state ID cards. Your ID will show a star if it meets REAL ID standards.

Applying for a REAL ID requires you to appear in person with a variety of documents to prove your identity.

Visit the West Virginia DMV to find out exactly what is required to get a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or state ID card.

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You may vote by absentee ballot by mail in West Virginia if: 

• You will be absent from the county during both the early voting period and Election Day because of personal or business travel or attendance at a college, university or other place of education or training
• Your employment makes voting in person impossible because of the hours worked and distance from the county seat
• You are confined to a specific location and prevented from voting in person due to an illness, injury, other medical reason, physical disability, or advanced age
• You are incarcerated or detained in jail or at home on Election Day, but not under conviction of any felony, of treason, or of bribery (including any period of probation or parole) 
• You are a participant in the Address Confidentiality Program (ACP) with the Office of the Secretary of State
• The county absentee voting office and your polling place are inaccessible to you due to your physical disability 
• You are temporarily residing outside of the county (you must receive ballot at an address outside of the county.)
• You are serving as an elected or appointed state or federal official (you must receive ballot at an address outside of the county.)

No, unless it is your first time voting in a federal election in West Virginia. A federal election is when you vote for the President, your Congressional Representative or your Senators.

Learn more about federal ID requirements for first-time voters.

No.

If you submit a defective absentee ballot in West Virginia, you will be notified that the ballot will be considered provisional and the reason.

You may submit a corrected ballot, provided that the county clerk’s office receives the ballot by:

• The day before Election Day, if hand-delivered;
• The day after Election Day, if mailed without postmark;
•  The canvass date (i.e., the Monday following Election Day), if postmarked by the USPS by Election Day;
•  The canvass date (i.e., the Monday following Election Day), if from military or overseas voters.