CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Election Day is drawing closer in West Virginia, and the Secretary of State’s office is highlighting the start of National Voter Registration Month.
Tuesday officially kicked off September with around 1.2 million registered voters in the Mountain State. Secretary of State Kris Warner said now is the time to ensure that you can cast a ballot in the November General Election.
“We’re working with all 55 county clerks who remind voters, this is the time, right now, to verify your voter registration status,” Warner said. “You can do that at GoVoteWV.com.”
Warner noted that there may have been changes to voter information since the last election. During September, Warner said there’s a chance to revise that information.
“This gives eligible citizens the opportunity to update their information, if necessary,” Warner said. “If you’ve been married since the last election, this is the way to change your name. You can do that at the county clerk’s office as well. If you’re not registered to vote, you can register to vote for the first time, either in the county clerk’s office or online at our GoVoteWV.com website.”
The reason that the Secretary of State’s office is pushing this, Warner said, is to try and prevent future headaches. Warner said the sooner that voters’ information is up to date, the better off they will be.
“If your information is outdated, that can cause unnecessary delays or even confusion when it’s time to actually cast your ballot,” Warner said. “This is the time, right now. We’re just 17 days away from absentee ballots being started to be mailed out. Early voting starts in 50 days, and Election Day is 63 days away.”
The November election marks the first time that 16 and 17 year olds can work in the polls, thanks to a bill passed during the 2026 regular 60-day legislative session in March. 45 states, now including West Virginia, allow individuals under 18 to serve as poll workers, with requirements varying by state.
Warner said there are certain requirements to serve in West Virginia.
“If you’ve got a 3.0 GPA, your principal is OK with it, your parents are alright with it; you get written permission from each of them, you can serve as a poll worker,” Warner said.
While the teenagers can’t register to vote until they’ll be 18 at the time of the election, Warner said that the poll workers must choose a party affiliation. He said officials will make sure there’s equal representation among political parties.
“Now, they still have to pick a political party even though they’re not going to register as a 16-year-old,” Warner said. “We have two Republicans, two Democrats, and then the fifth can be picked by the county commission or the county clerk, (which) is who they typically leave that up to.”
Warner said there is decent pay for those who serve as poll workers as well. He said depending on the county, workers get paid between $250 and $300 for the day’s work. He added that workers also get paid for the two-hour training course, which is held several weeks before the election. The dates and times of those training courses fluctuate based on the county.
Election Day is November 3.