West Virginia

Look at this PowerPoint to learn how to fill out an absentee ballot and contact us at ce@sewanee.edu if you have any further questions.
Important Dates

In Person:

21 days before Election Day.

By Mail:

Postmarked 21 days before Election Day.

Online:

21 days before Election Day.

Election Day:

N/A

Visit Sewanee’s TurboVote page to receive help with registering to vote or voting

You can also visit West Virginia’s voter registration page for similar assistance and information

Only use this option if for some reason you are unable to register/update online. For example, register by mail if you don’t have a WV Driver’s License/State ID.
To register by mail, print and mail the form linked above to your local elections authority.

Registration Deadlines
Remember to check up on your registration status here and if it is not updated within 2 weeks of your submission, contact your local election authority

You can request an absentee ballot through TurboVote, your West Virginia Absentee Application Portal, by mail, or through another source

Make sure to have the ballot sent to you at the address you plan to be at when it arrives
If you intend to request an absentee ballot by mail, fill out this application in blue or black pen and ensure that you sign with the same signature you used to register to vote. Then mail the application to your local elections authority.

Absentee Ballot Submission Deadlines
Absentee Ballot Tracker
After you receive and complete your ballot, send it to your local elections authority.
In West Virginia, you must provide an excuse to vote by mail. Attending college out-of-state is a valid reason.

If you've voted in West Virginia before, registered in person, or provided ID at the time of registration, you don't need to provide ID to vote by mail.
If you're voting in West Virginia for the first time, registered to vote by mail, and didn't provide ID when you registered, be sure to enclose a copy of your photo ID, or a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or government document that shows your name and address when you return your ballot.

Read this article to learn about how your state may verify absentee ballots. There’s also a chance your ballot may tell you it needs to be signed in the presence of a witness or notary public, so if this applies to you see the How to Vote Absentee PowerPoint for more information.

If you don’t have a WV Driver’s License/State ID you can still register to vote/submit an absentee ballot by using your social security number (SSN). It’s better to use your Driver’s License/State ID, though.
If you don’t have any of these things, you need to submit a copy of an alternative form of identification in the form of an approved photo ID or a document that shows your name and home address along with your registration application and mail ballot.

The name or address on your ID doesn’t have to be current, however, you must provide an up-to-date name, home, and mailing address for your voter registration. This means that if your information has changed since you last registered to vote, you need to update/re-register.

No, it will not affect any federal financial aid, including Pell Grants, Perkins and Stafford Loans, Academic Competitive Grants, SMART Grants, and other federal loans. Some private scholarships and grants are designated for residents of a particular place, so it is good to check with the administrator of the program to see how they determine residency.

Does where I register to vote affect whether my parents can claim me on their taxes?

No, a parent can still claim a child on their taxes, no matter where they are registered to vote.

Make sure that your signature on anything you submit regarding voting (e.g., absentee ballots or voter registration) matches the one on your WV State ID/Driver’s License
You can still vote absentee if you’re studying abroad. Usa.gov is a great resource for anyone needing to vote overseas.

Important Dates