CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) – The 2026 primary election season is underway, and voters across the states are already heading to the polls to cast early ballots.
Here are the voting dates and changes for this year’s primaries:
West Virginia – Election Day: May 12
- Deadline to register to vote: Tuesday, April 21 at 4:00 p.m
- Deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot: May 6
- Early voting begins April 29
- More information: govotewv.com
Beginning with this election, voters are required to bring a government-issued photo ID to complete their ballot. According to Secretary of State Kris Warner, this could include a driver’s license, passport, public school student or teacher photo ID, or any photo ID issued by a district court or the Secretary of State’s office.
Also, starting this election, the Republican primary will be closed to people who are not registered with the Republican Party. Therefore, no registered independent voter will be able to complete a ballot for the Republican Party. The Democratic primary remains open to independent voters.
State Republican Party Chairman Josh Holstein, also a member of the state House of Delegates, said the party made the decision about a year and a half ago and it would be implemented now.
“More than two-thirds of registered independent voters who vote in our primary elections actually vote for the Republican ticket,” WSAZ explained. “So we believe that a lot of these people are Republicans at heart and they believe in our values. And I think that’s why we’re seeing a lot of them come in and officially join us so they can continue to be a part of this process.”
Holstein also noted that this year’s primary is particularly competitive, with top Republicans in the state such as Gov. Patrick Morrisey and U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, D-Va., endorsing competing candidates in some races.
“We believe we will have different opinions about which candidates are the best and which ideas are likely to win,” he said. “But at the end of the day, we are all Republicans. So whoever wins the primary, we will all unite behind him, support him in the general election and move toward victory.”
West Virginia Democratic Party Chairman Mike Pushkin, also a member of the House of Delegates, told WSAZ he feels comfortable with his party’s central position.
“There are more Democrats running for office this term than there really have been in the last decade,” he said. “It’s important. It gives voters the ability to choose up and down the ballot, and that’s how our Democratic Republic works best.”
Pushkin also referred to the primaries of the Republican Party.
“Even though the Republican Party seems focused on infighting, raising money among themselves and running candidates against each other, our real focus is on putting great Democrats on the ballot,” he told WSAZ. “We had a very clean, honorable and competitive primary. We’re giving voters a good choice and we feel really good about where we are.”
Secretary Warner stressed to WSAZ the importance of voting in the primary election.
“This is the best way I know of to police the government that controls the way we live,” Warner said in an interview with WSAZ. “So you can get out, you can vote and have a direct input.”
“And one vote makes a difference,” he continued. “In the most recent municipal elections held last summer in West Virginia, five elections for city council, city clerk or mayor ended in a tie. So every single vote would have made a difference in this race.”
Ohio – Election Day: May 5
- Deadline to register to vote: April 6 at 9 p.m
- Early voting begins April 7
- More information: votoohio.gov
Kentucky – Election Day: May 19
- Deadline to register to vote: Monday, April 20, 4:00 p.m
- Deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot: May 5
- Early voting begins May 14
- More information: elect.ky.gov
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