Responsive Gov’s Grade TL;DR

The West Virginia Legislature made one minor pro-voter improvement to the state’s election laws last year by extending the online voter registration deadline by a few hours. However, the state took a major step back with regards to election security when Secretary Warner pulled the state out of ERIC without establishing a reliable alternative method to ensure the state’s voter rolls remain accurate and up-to-date. West Virginia received a C- on this year’s progress report.

Looking Back

Where West Virginia Started at the Beginning of 2023

• Automatic Voter Registration: Hard Stop
• Online Voter Registration: DMV ID
• Same-Day Registration: No
• Restoration of Rights: Parole and/or Probation Disenfranchisement
• Vote by Mail: Excuse-Only
• Electronic Registration Information Center Member: Yes
• Early Voting Opportunities: In-Person Absentee
• ID Requirements: ID Requested, but not Required

Relying on the Cost of Voting Index for West Virginia as of 2022, we considered the state a middle tier state for pre-existing voting policy and compared its 2023 activity against other middle tier states. Last year, West Virginia was considered a bottom tier state.

How Our Tier Compares

• COVI (2022): 19th
• EPI Score (2020): 15th
• CLC State Scorecard (2022): 4/10
• MAP Democracy Rating (2022): FAIR

2023: This Past Year

Legislative Action

The West Virginia Legislature made only one small improvement to election laws this past year.

• S 631 slightly extends the online voter registration deadline a few additional hours from close of business on the 21st day before the election to 11:59pm on the 21st day.

Executive Action

• Last year, Secretary of State Mac Warner resigned the state’s membership in the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC) which helped keep the state’s voter registration list up-to-date. Unfortunately, this action will only make the state’s voter rolls less secure and accurate.