Fayette County, WV (WOAY) – West Virginia’s 2026 primary election is Tuesday, May 12th. This election will feature historic changes to voting requirements and who you can vote for.
Fayette County Clerk Michelle Holly told WOAY about the changes voters need to be ready for:
“This election is the first election in West Virginia that requires a photo ID to vote. So you do need to bring an ID that has a photo on it.”
Valid photo IDs include your driver’s license, state-issued ID, passport, student ID, and some employee IDs that include a picture. For a full list, visit sos.wv.gov/be-registered-and-ready.
As you research candidates, you should also be sure you know which ballots you can choose.
“The state republican party chose to close their primary. So only registered republicans can vote for republicans in this primary. You might have been able to vote a republican ballot in the past, but if you’re registered nonpartisan or independent, you cannot do that this year… If you are an independent or nonaffiliated voter, you can still vote in the primary. You’re just not going to be able to ask for that republican ballot.”
If you’re not sure where to vote, Holly says you can find your correct precinct by calling your county clerk’s office, or by visiting govotewv.com, where you can also find sample ballots.
Midterm elections often see lower voter turnout than presidential elections, but Holly says that this Tuesday may be even more important than seemingly bigger elections.
“These local races are just as important, if not more important, to your daily life. The people that we put on the school board, the people that sit on our county commissions, the judges that will judge our friends and neighbors—those decisions affect you in your daily life so much more. So it’s just as important to vote on those kinds of races as it is to vote in the big-name stuff.”
