West Virginia’s voter certification process explained

When West Virginians go to the polls today to vote for their next U.S. senator, governor, state delegate or county sheriff, their votes will be counted and protected, despite any claims of fraud.

Four years ago, then-President Donald Trump falsely claimed that his election was stolen. The disturbances that followed led to a violent insurrection in which his supporters tried to prevent Congress from certifying Joe Biden’s victory.

This year, Trump did said that if he loses the election, it will only be because he was cheated out of victory. So things could get increasingly confusing, so here’s what you need to know if you’re watching the events unfold at home.

Haven’t you voted yet?

If you haven’t voted today, you still have time.

Several key races will be on the ballot today. The state will have a new leadership in January between the governor’s race and local delegate races in each district.

Mountain State Spotlight has a comprehensive voter’s guide with information about each candidate running in your district. and our previous coverage talking to voters in all 55 counties.

How do I find out who won?

After the polls close and the results come in, we will have live election results on our website provided by the Associated Press.

We recommend reading coverage at news stations like Associated Press for information on national races outside of West Virginia. There, those results will be updated in real time after polls close on Election Day.

The Associated Press has a team of experts which researches historical voting trends and election laws. As the votes are counted, they project winners when the losing candidate can no longer come back and win.

Turnout was historically very high below in West Virginia than in other states for the last three presidential elections. But, in early voting, several county clerks they said they had a record turnout on the first day.

How the votes are counted in West Virginia

On Election Day night, ballots cast and counted are reported as unofficial votes. After the polls close, the official results won’t be known until days or weeks later.

Five days after the election, excluding weekends and holidays, county election officials conduct the process of canvassing in which mail-in, early, absentee, and election-day ballots are counted together. During this process, officials also review voting machines and other materials involved in the collection of votes.

After the research process is completed, the officials declare the results and wait 48 hoursduring which candidates can request a recount. The results are then certified except where the votes must be recounted.

Within ten days of the certification of the results, the candidates can contest the elections through the courts.

If the results are not contested, then they are sent to the Secretary of State and the Governor within 30 days for review. The deadline for submitting results is December 5.

To learn more about how election officials are analyzing votes in West Virginia, you can find information on canvassing and state recounts. manual on the website of the Secretary of State. Or view West Virginia Election Calendar.

To learn more about election laws, you can read the election and officers section of the state constitution.

How is your vote secured?

The West Virginia Secretary of State’s Office ensure that every election is secure and every ballot is properly counted.

County clerks perform the actual counting of votes at the local level, as provided in State Law.

“The process is set up to make the election as safe and transparent as possible to earn the public’s trust,” Diana Cromley, Mason County Clerk and president of the West Virginia Association of Counties, wrote in a recent edition.

County clerks are responsible for making sure everyone who votes is eligible to vote and has access to the ballot, Cromley wrote. They also assist with the canvassing process after election day.

Is voter fraud a problem?

In 2020, former President Donald Trump claimed that the presidential election was stolen, despite numerous court decisions indicating otherwise. These claims were echoed by politicians in West Virginiaeven the state’s top election officer, Secretary of State Mac Warner.

The truth is that incidents of voter fraud are almost nonexistent, voter impersonation is very rare, and many cases of alleged fraud are errors by election administrators, according to Nonpartisan Brennan Center for Justice.

Human errors can still happen. In Mingo County, a state Senate candidate was erroneously remained of nearly 700 ballots during early voting.

There were also several studies driven which have shown that electoral fraud is incredibly rare. It is illegal in every state for non-citizens to vote in federal elections, punishable by up to one year in federal prison and a fine.

“Citizens can vote in 2024 with confidence,” wrote Michael Waldman, the center’s president and CEO. “Despite the noise, lies and melodrama, the vote will likely be uneventful for the vast majority of Americans.”