CHARLESTON, W.Va. –A new West Virginia law will soon allow students to work as poll workers during future elections.
House Bill 4865 was passed during the 2026 regular 60-day legislative session in March. The bill aims to create a program allowing juniors and seniors who are not yet 18, as well as homeschool and private school students, the opportunity to serve as poll workers.
“It’s going to give younger adults the opportunity to be introduced to the system and be able to be poll workers, basically poll worker trainees,” West Virginia Secretary of State Kris Warner said.
The bill was introduced by Jefferson County Delegate Joe Funkhouser on behalf of Warner. It passed the House of Delegates in an 82-14 vote and passed the Senate unanimously.
It was officially signed into law by Governor Patrick Morrisey on April 1. While the bill will not be in effect for the May 12 primary election, it will take effect for the Nov. 3 general election.
Currently, 45 states, now including West Virginia, allow individuals under 18 to serve as poll workers, with requirements varying by state.
Funkhouser said some counties are currently facing a shortage of poll workers, an issue lawmakers wanted to address with the bill.
“There’s a couple of goals here, which is to help get enough poll workers to work the elections but also to provide training, because you get them started younger than it may be something they want to continue for the rest of their life,” he said.
Funkhouser explained that poll workers are currently required to be registered voters because party affiliation is a prerequisite for serving as a poll worker.
He said this change helps expand eligibility to give students an opportunity to serve, while also noting that party affiliation is not the only criterion they must meet.
“This allows juniors and seniors in high schools to choose a party affiliation without registering to vote,” Funkhouser said. “It also parent or guardians’ permission and proof of a 3.0 GPA, we want to make sure these kids are doing okay in school.”
Students must also obtain written approval from their school principal and complete the required training program.
Putnam County Clerk Brian Wood said he supports the law, noting that inspiring young adults to become involved is a positive outcome.
“That’s where it all starts, is the ballot box, from the president all the way down, and without our poll workers this wouldn’t be possible, so we’re very grateful for our poll workers, and we always need up and coming poll workers as well,” Wood said.
Poll workers are responsible for opening and closing polling places, checking in voters and issuing ballots, assisting voters, maintaining election security, and managing lines and workflow.
Wood explained that a couple of years ago they implemented electronic poll books and had high school students who were 18 assisting at the polls.
He said the reaction from veteran poll workers was incredible to see.
“It really worked out great seeing both generations, the veterans showing what they know about the polling place and how election day unveils but then the younger ones coming in and being not scared of the technology, and putting things together, so it was a really great tandem,” he said.
Funkhouser said it is encouraging to see younger adults participating in elections, especially since poll workers tend to be older, and that the response has been positive.
“Society has transferred knowledge from the older to the young for millennia, that’s how we get the younger generations involved and carry on the torch,” he said.
Wood said that prior to early voting beginning on April 29, he had the opportunity to send out educational postcards regarding the Republican primary being closed and the new voter ID law.
He said he used that as an opportunity to call for individuals who are interested in becoming poll workers.
Wood said there are some new faces this year, which he described as encouraging.
“We have a lot of new faces this go around, we have some veterans, but we do also have a lot of people stepping up and trying it for the first time so that’s encouraging, I hope they stay with it,” he said.
Funkhouser shared the same sentiment, saying he hopes this will encourage younger adults to continue serving as poll workers for years to come.
“Hopefully this will provide, when their in high school, before they go away to college or go work full time, to get trained on it, understand how to do it, and you get paid for it, so there’s a number of things, it helps the state, it helps the individuals volunteering to participate to be these poll workers, so I think it’s a win-win all around,” he said.
He also expressed hope that this could become an educational elective for students moving forward, even though the role is somewhat different from typical coursework.
“Although their roll is more of administerial of making sure the elections are conducted in a fair and balanced way that’s all part of the process and the things that you vote on, on your ballot,” Funkhouser said.
The new law will go into effect on June 12.
Warner said he is excited to see the law implemented.
“We’re very excited for the opportunity for them to be able to be involved even before they’re able to vote,” he said.