MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The May 12 Primary Election Will be the first for the new voter ID law that requires a photo ID to vote.
Monongalia County Democrat Executive Committee Chairman Cal Carlson said many voters might not know about the change and could be turned away at the polls or be asked to cast a provisional ballot.
“That’s a new change that comes in this election where before folks could show 21 different forms of photo or non-photo ID,” Carlson said. “Now, there’s a smaller list of photo IDs voters can show, and all Democrats voted against that.”
The law does contain several exceptions for people without a photo ID that are listed on the Secretary of State website. The law says residents can request a photo ID in person at their county clerk’s office.
“There are a couple of non-photo exemptions, and those are listed on the West Virginia Secretary of State website,” Carlson said. “I encourage folks to take some time to review all of those so you’re prepared once you get to the polls.”
After so many years of the accepted practice, the change is a concern along with potential problems many of the out-of-town residents could have due to the change. After the election, experiences of the voters will measure the impact of the new law.
Kanawha County Clerk Vera McCormick said her coworkers have been trained to ask for an ID.
McCormick said one of the exceptions is a neighbor can vouch for a voter that doesn’t have an ID.
Carlson says the new law goes further than it should.
“In a sense it is suppression because you’re asking folks to get a photo ID when for how many decades we allowed non-voter IDs and we had no issues at the polls,” Carlson said.
Carlson urges residents to get educated on the law, and if you don’t agree, make your voice heard.
“I just encourage folks to adhere to these new rules and also make your voice heard to your legislators if this is something you feel strongly about,” Carlson said.
To all voters, Carlson wants them to be educated no matter what party they back. This election includes state and local offices as well as a slate of judicial candidates, and sample ballots are available through multiple sources.
“The Secretary of State’s office and the county clerks have sample ballots, so I encourage folks to look at those,” Carlson said. “We have single-member districts, so here there are six House districts and two Senate districts and a lot of different combinations of that.”