CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Prior to taking office, West Virginia Secretary of State Mac Warner expressed concern over keeping West Virginia’s voter registration files up to date and accurate. Upon taking office January 16, 2017, Secretary of State Warner began acting on his concerns, and opened communication with the State’s 55 county clerks. Secretary Warner is pleased with the initial results.
The Elections Division within the Secretary of State’s Office confirmed on Friday morning that since Warner took office in January, the county clerks have canceled 36,635 outdated records from the voter registration files across the state. Cooperation continues between the county clerks statewide and the Secretary’s office to advance the voter registration list maintenance process to ensure voter file accuracy.
Regarding the county clerks efforts, Secretary Warner stated, “Since I took office in January, West Virginia county clerks have cancelled tens of thousands of outdated voter registrations. I applaud the continued effort by the county clerks to ensure an all-encompassing voter registration list maintenance process ensuring an accurate and up-to-date voter file.”
Using updated technology and tools, elections experts have estimated that the status of more than 100,000 registered voters in West Virginia – nearly 10% of our State’s registered voters – may have changed and may need to be removed from current voter rolls. Those status updates include voters who: (1) have moved from their initial registered address; (2) have died; or (3) have duplicate registration records on file.
Bringing voter registration files up to date will require continued cancellations by the county clerks. Secretary Warner is committed to providing his Elections Division and the county clerks the tools necessary to accomplish the shared goals.
“I am encouraged that the Secretary of State’s Office is focused on providing additional tools and resources to assist the clerks in achieving the common goal of clean voter rolls. County clerks statewide work diligently to keep registration lists current and we look forward to taking advantage of the additional resources.”
Putnam County Clerk Brian Wood shared his commitment to ensuring clean elections. “I am encouraged that the Secretary of State’s Office is focused on providing additional tools and resources to assist the clerks in achieving the common goal of clean voter rolls. County clerks statewide work diligently to keep registration lists current and we look forward to taking advantage of the additional resources.”
In announcing the registration update on Friday, Secretary Warner said, “I’m dedicated to the partnership and cooperation with our county clerks to achieve clean and accurate elections that begin with updated voter registration files. Our team will remain focused on assisting county clerks with every tool possible from the Secretary of State’s Office.”
