Secretary of State Betty Ireland would like to remind voters that West Virginia’s Primary Election will be held on May 13th, the second Tuesday in May, as required by state law. Voters will have the opportunity to cast their vote on a full slate of candidates, including presidential candidates, at that time.
West Virginia’s regularly scheduled Primary Election should not be confused with the Republican State Convention held Tuesday, February 5th, where Republicans chose a portion of their delegates to the Republican National Convention. This year, Republicans and Democrats each chose to select some or all of their delegates to their national conventions through a state convention. While the Republican’s state convention was held Tuesday, February 5th, the Democrat’s convention will be held on June 13th and 14th. The Mountain Party will hold a convention in July to select their nominee for Governor and President.
Also, for the first time, independent voters and voters who marked “no party affiliation” on their voter registration form will be able to vote in the Republican or the Democrat or the Mountain Party’s Primary, May 13th. These voters must ask for the Republican, the Democrat or the Mountain Party’s ballot when they cast their vote. “I want to assure voters they will have the opportunity to vote for the candidate of their choice on May 13th” Secretary of State Betty Ireland said. Citizens can register to vote by visiting their county clerk or visiting www.WVvotes.com to download a voter registration form.

Secretary of State Betty Ireland announces that, beginning this month, voters who move and file a change of address form with the post office will receive in their welcome kit a reminder to update their voter registration information. The notice will direct voters to www.WVvotes.com, where they can download a voter registration form to fill out and send in to their county clerk. The registration form can be used to register for the first time or change registration information already on file.
“My office is always searching for new and better ways to make it convenient for West Virginia citizens to register and vote,” Secretary Ireland said. “And this is just one more tool to help our voters make sure their registrations are up to date when they go to cast a ballot,” Secretary Ireland added.