CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Over the next two Tuesdays, thousands of 
West Virginians will head to the polls to cast their ballots in municipal elections.
Though voter participation tends to dip without high-profile national elections, Secretary of State Natalie Tennant said these are important votes that shouldn’t be taken lightly.
From mayor to city council, town recorder to city clerk, these are critical positions. And for many of those candidates, it represents their first step into politics.
“This is where democracy is on the front lines because you usually know who your neighbors are, who the townspeople are,” said Tennant. “You are one-on-one with a little bit more maybe than you are with a statewide official.”
On Tuesday, some 24 municipalities will hold elections. The next week, on June 11, that number jumps to 105.
To see which municipalities have elections taking place on June 4 or June 11, log on to www.sos.wv.gov. and click on ‘Elections.’
While the course of national politics isn’t at stake, Tennant says every vote counts.
“We’ve seen story after story where a mayor was decided with a flip of a coin because it was a tied vote. See what one more vote would have done? It would have switched (the vote) either way,” said Tennant.
The Secretary of State’s Office will be hopping to ensure the elections go off without a hitch.
“We take it very seriously, in the Secretary of State’s Office, and you will see us in election-day mode here for those two days,” Tennant said.
If you have any questions or concerns on the day of the election, there will be monitors in all communities where voting is taking place. You can also call the Secretary of State’s office at 304-558-6000.