RIPLEY, W.Va – The 2026 general election arrives in West Virginia on November 3, and there are key deadlines coming up that election officials want voters to know about.
The deadline to register to vote is Tuesday, and there are several questions that county clerks want their residents to ask before the date passes. “Have I moved? Do I want to change my party? Have I registered at all? Those are the things you need to think about,” Jackson County Clerk Christina Gossett told MetroNews affiliate WMOV Radio.
Eligible voters can register or update their information online through the Secretary of State’s office at sos.wv.gov. Registration resources are also available through the secretary’s website and local county clerk’s offices.
“You can Google ‘GoVoteWV.’ That comes up for people. I have a site, ‘jacksoncountyclerkwv.com. ‘ Of course, going to the elections tab there will get you to all of those links as well,” Gossett said.
As the election draws closer, early voting begins on October 21 and continues through the end of the month. With the polls about to open, many locations are already fully staffed, but officials always need alternates.
“We do like to have a healthy alternate list, so if anyone is interested, I urge them to call our voter registration office and just get on our list. That way, we may come down to the wire and need you,” Gossett said.
Close to two years of preparation for clerks around West Virginia culminates in the rush of activity on November 3. Gossett said that almost as soon as Election Day passes, focus turns to the presidential election in two years.
“We are constantly working on the next election, even if it’s a midterm. As soon as we get done here, probably starting in January, we’re going to be working on 2028,” she said.
Races in this year’s election include seats in the U.S. Senate, House of Representatives, and both houses of the state legislature.