News & Commentary

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. 

If you have been following along with our bill tracker and the more than 500 bills we've been following in the legislature, it won't suprise you that this was a busy session for the ACLU-WV.  This legislative session was a difficult one on many ACLU issues, but one area where we've seen real progress and success is in Criminal Legal Reform.  

It’s hard to overstate what a big deal this is. We just took a major step toward ending the predatory system of cash bail in West Virginia.

The practice of civil forfeiture allows police to seize — and then keep or sell — any property they allege is involved in a crime. Owners need not ever be arrested or convicted of a crime for their cash, cars, or even real estate to be taken away permanently by the government.