CHARLESTON, W.Va. – On Thursday, Governor Patrick Morrisey announced the signing of House Bill 3016, which requires voters to present a photo ID in order to vote. Morrisey says this legislation upholds election integrity and helps to prevent voter fraud in West Virginia.
“Democratic elections are only as strong as the trust placed in them by the voters,” said Morrisey. “This commonsense legislation secures West Virginia’s elections and instills faith in the voting process.”
As of 2024, 35 U.S. states require voters to present some form of identification at the polls on Election Day. Of these, 25 states mandate photo identification, including Ohio.
Morrisey was joined by West Virginia Attorney General JB McCuskey and legislators at the ceremonial bill signing on Thursday.
House Bill 3016 requires a person desiring to vote shall present to one of the poll clerks a valid identifying document, which includes:
- A valid West Virginia driver’s license or valid West Virginia identification card issued by the West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles.
- A valid driver’s license issued by a state other than the State of West Virginia.
- A valid United States passport or passport card.
- A valid employee identification card with a photograph of the eligible voter issued by the United States Government or of the State of West Virginia, or by any county, municipality, board, authority, or other political subdivision of West Virginia.
- A valid student identification card with a photograph of the eligible voter issued by an institution of higher education in West Virginia by a West Virginia high school.
- A valid military identification card issued by the United States with a photograph of the person desiring to vote.
- A valid voter registration card that includes the voter’s photograph issued by a county clerk in the State of West Virginia or the Secretary of State.
Voters who cannot present a valid identifying document can cast a provisional ballot after executing an affidavit affirming his or her identity. The provisional ballot may be counted once the election authority verifies the identity of the individual through signature verification and determines that the individual was otherwise eligible to cast a ballot.
