Voting in West Virginia’s primary is just as important as voting in the general election

Polls open at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m. on West Virginia's primary election day Tuesday, May 14, 2024. (Getty Images)

Today is West Virginia’s primary election day, and as long as you’re reading this before the polls close at 7:30 p.m., there’s plenty of time to vote.

The primary election is just as important as the general election — Republicans and Democrats help choose who from their party they want representing them in the general election, and — at least for now — independents can choose to vote on any party’s ballot. The West Virginia Republican executive committee voted earlier this year to close the Republican primary beginning in 2026.

While the presidential candidates are already decided at this point, West Virginians are able to vote for who they believe should represent their parties in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives races. The lawmakers representing West Virginia in Congress will spend a lot of time in Washington, D.C., fighting to get money for the state, and trying to get laws passed that they believe will help West Virginians.

The smaller level races are just as important too. Think of ordinances that city councils have passed over the last year. Huntington and Charleston now both allow outdoor drinking areas in their downtowns. The Morgantown City Council is beginning the process of possibly repealing its panhandling ban, and the town of Bethany joined 18 other communities last month by passing a fairness ordinance to protect LGBTQ+ residents from discrimination in employment, housing and public spaces.

Local elections matter.

Who serves on your county commission? Who is your county sheriff? Do you know who is on your county school board? Residents of Cabell County are well aware of their school board members after the superintendent announced plans to cut Cabell County excess levy funding from the counties’ parks and libraries. 

The vote for the excess levy will only appear on the primary election ballot, but it is possible that if the levy fails another one may be proposed in November. 

Levy votes are important. Excess levies fund schools, parks, libraries and fire departments. It’s always good to look at your sample ballot before heading to the polls to 1) see if there’s a levy that you were unaware of and 2) understand the wording of a levy so you know how to vote — the wording can be confusing.

Do your research. Look at your sample ballot and see what races you can vote in. Look up the people you aren’t familiar with. Read articles about the candidates, including in the West Virginia Watch. Check local election guides to learn more about candidates. Ask friends who have similar beliefs as you who they are voting for — that doesn’t mean you have to vote the same way, but it can give you a better idea of which candidates might align with or against your views. Make yourself a cheat sheet on your phone if you’re worried you’ll forget which candidates you want to vote for — it can be stressful when you get in the booth to vote.

Voting is one of the most important things you can do as a member of your community. You’re helping choose who will make laws that will affect your daily life.

Look at the state’s most recent legislative session — 60 days were wasted arguing about multiple bills that died on the final night. The state budget was passed at the last minute with everyone knowing it was inadequate and would need to be fixed during a special session — which will cost taxpayers more money. 

Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court put the decision of whether or not to legalize abortion in the hands of the states. Although a majority of people believe abortion should be legal, during the state’s legislative session a bill supported by eight Democrats to have a ballot measure to allow West Virginians to vote on whether they want to legalize abortion got no traction. Legislators were too busy talking about what obscene materials they think libraries provide to children and trying to loosen vaccine requirements.

There are many things that affect you every day that you might not realize are controlled by the West Virginia Legislature. 

Does your workplace not offer paid parental leave? That’s because West Virginia doesn’t require it, and a bill creating a pilot program in the state didn’t go anywhere during the session.

Does your family struggle to find or afford child care? The Legislature early in the session said child care was a priority, but failed to pass any bills to help parents pay for it. 

Teacher pay? Decided by the state legislature.

Unemployment benefits? Decreased by the West Virginia Legislature this past session.

Elections affect everything, yet in the 2022 primary only 34.7% of West Virginians of voting age voted. Those 34.7% of people are making decisions for all of us. 

In the 2022 primary, there were 43 races in West Virginia that were decided by less than 10 votes, according to Secretary of State Mac Warner. Your vote can absolutely make a difference.

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