West Virginia Secretary of State Kris Warner says the state’s 2026 primary election went “very, very smoothly” as voters cast ballots across all 55 counties Tuesday.
More than 2,700 candidates appeared on ballots statewide, with 1,684 precincts open for voters during the primary election.
Warner, overseeing his first election as Secretary of State, said more than 230 staff members and investigators were stationed across West Virginia to monitor polling locations and respond to any issues.
According to Warner, election officials received 196 calls from the field, with most involving routine voter issues such as people arriving at the wrong precinct, outdated registration information, or minor equipment problems like battery issues and paper jams. He said all of those issues were addressed.
Election officials also closely monitored concerns surrounding unaffiliated voters who were unable to vote in Republican primary races in some counties, along with West Virginia’s new photo ID law, which Warner said did not result in any reported cases of voters being turned away.
Warner also praised county clerks, poll workers, and first-time voters for their efforts, saying some precinct workers even cheered when high school seniors and other first-time voters arrived to cast their ballots.
Official canvassing begins Monday, with certified results expected later in the week following the state’s review process.
Warner called the day a “phenomenal” election experience, saying West Virginia’s primary voting process went “very, very smoothly.”
