News & Commentary

Secretary of State Mac Warner has clarified that all West Virginia voters may request an absentee ballot for the May 12 primary election because of the COVID-19 global pandemic. Here’s what you need to do to make sure you are able to vote absentee:

Renters — the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals has put a stop to all civil actions that do not qualify as emergencies through April 10. Evictions are not emergencies under the Court’s definition. If you have a court date scheduled for an unlawful detainer hearing, call the court to see if it has been canceled and then email us if it has not at [email protected].

These are uncertain times, and it’s easy to feel helpless as we watch the COVID-19 epidemic unfold.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MARCH 19, 2020 | CONTACT: BILLY WOLFE [email protected] | www.acluwv.org

This afternoon, WV Secretary of State Mac Warner announced that, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, registered voters in West Virginia would be able to vote by absentee ballot under the “medical emergency” provision of WV Code Sec. 3-3-1(a)(1)(A). We have worked closely with the Secretary of State’s office in recent days advocating that he take this position. We applaud this effort to increase access to the polls, especially at this time of national crisis.

Call the governor: 304-558-2000

 

Governor Justice should call a special session of the Legislature to allow for absentee voting by mail in the May 12 primary election and in the general election this fall.

People incarcerated in West Virginia’s jails and prisons are always among the most marginalized in our society, and now they are at increased risk of infection from the COVID19 virus.