West Virginia: Election Tools, Deadlines, Dates, Rules, and Links

West Virginia absentee ballots

• Absentee ballot application deadlines

  • In Person: Received 6 days before Election Day.
  • By Mail: Received 6 days before Election Day.
  • Online: N/A

• Voted absentee ballots are due

  Mailed ballots must be postmarked by general Election Day and received by 5 days after general Election Day (unless that day is a Sunday, then the deadline is the following Monday). Mailed ballots with no postmark will be counted if received by 1 day after general Election Day. Ballots returned in person must be received one day before general Election Day.

• Absentee ballot rules

  All registered West Virginia voters may vote by absentee ballot in person during the period of early voting. You may vote by absentee ballot by mail in West Virginia if:

  • You will be absent from the county during both the early voting period and Election Day because of personal or business travel or attendance at a college, university or other place of education or training;
  • Employment that makes voting in person impossible because of the hours worked and distance from the county seat
  • You are confined to a specific location and prevented from voting in person due to an illness, injury, other medical reason (including concerns of COVID-19), physical disability, or advanced age;
  • You are incarcerated or detained in jail or a home on Election Day, but not under conviction of any felony, of treason, or of bribery (including any period of probation or parole);
  • You are a participant in the Address Confidentiality Program (ACP) with the Office of the Secretary of State;
  • The county absentee voting office and your polling place are inaccessible to to you due to your physical disability;
  • You temporarily reside outside of the county;
  • You serve as an elected or appointed state or federal official.

• How to get an absentee ballot in West Virginia

  1. Use our Absentee Ballot Tool to prepare your application.
  2. Sign and date the form. This is very important!
  3. Return your completed application to your Local Election Office as soon as possible. We'll provide the mailing address for you.
  4. All Local Election Offices will accept mailed or hand-delivered forms. Your Local Election Official will also let you fax or email the application.
  5. Double-check the deadlines and be sure to cast your voted ballot on time to be sure it is counted.
  6. Please contact your Local Election Office if you have any further questions about the exact process.

• Once you get your absentee ballot in West Virginia

  1. Once you receive the ballot, carefully read and follow the instructions.
  2. Sign and date where indicated.
  3. Mail your voted ballot back to the address indicated on the return envelope.
  4. Double-check the deadlines and be sure to cast your voted ballot on time to be sure it is counted.