MORGANTOWN — It’s election time again.
The first votes in the 2026 Primary Election will be cast today as early voting opens across West Virginia ahead of the May 12 primary.
Early voting will be held each day, excluding Sunday, from 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. through May 9.
Unlike years past, Monongalia County only has two early voting locations:
- Mountaineer Mall – 5000 Green Bag Road (access from parking lot in front of Mylan and Anybody Fitness)
- Mason-Dixon Historical Park – 79 Buckeye Road, Core (in the red barn)
One change of note this time around, only voters registered as Republicans will be able to vote a Republican ballot due to changes enacted by the West Virginia Republican Executive Committee.
Independent and unaffiliated voters will be able to select between a Democrat ballot or nonpartisan ballot.
Also new this year, voters must show an approved form of photo identification at the polls during early voting and on Election Day. All forms of ID must be valid and not expired.
Previously accepted forms of non-photo identification like Medicaid cards, birth certificates and utility bills are no longer accepted following the 2025 passage of House Bill 3016.
Accepted forms of ID include:
- West Virginia driver’s license or state-issued ID
- Driver’s license from another state
- U.S passport or passport card
- Employee ID with photo issued by local, state or federal government
- Student ID with photo from a WV institution of higher education or a WV high school
- U.S. military ID with photo
- Voter registration card with photo issued by a WV county clerk or the WV Secretary of State
- An ID issued by the DMV without a photo for voters who swear and affirm they belong to recognized religious communities that prohibit them from being photographed
Exceptions to the voter ID requirement can be allowed if: A poll worker has known the voter for at least six months; or an adult who’s known the voter for at least six months signs a sworn affidavit.
Voters who cannot present a valid ID can cast a provisional ballot after executing an affidavit affirming his or her identity. The provisional ballot may be counted during the election canvassing process if verified through signature verification.
Registered voters who will be out of town during the entire period of early voting and on Election Day, or who are confined to their homes, may apply for an absentee ballot no later than May 6.
