Dear LWV-WV Members,
As you probably know, all West Virginia voters have the option of voting
absentee due to concerns about COVID-19. This is the safest option
because you can vote from home. However, despite our efforts to make the
process consistent with the primary [1], for the general election
registered voters in most counties won't be mailed an absentee ballot
application.
As things currently stand, here are your options for requesting an
absentee ballot.
1). Request a ballot online using the Secretary of State's absentee
ballot application portal [2]. While this is a welcome option for those
voters who are able to use it, many voters in WV are not able to access
it or are just not comfortable using it. Those voters can do one of the
following:
2). Call or email your county clerk [3] and ask them to mail an
application to you; OR
3). Download and print an application [4] and return it to your county
clerk [3] by mail or email.
At this point, only voters in Lincoln and Ohio counties will be mailed
absentee ballot applications [5]. But there's still time for the
Governor and Secretary of State to get this right and order election
officials to mail absentee ballot applications to all eligible voters.
With the threat of COVID-19 greater than it was in June, and at a time
when USPS is under attack and mail delivery may be delayed, the Governor
also could authorize the use of drop boxes to allow voters to hand
deliver their ballots without putting themselves, county clerks and
their staffs at risk.
That's where you come in.
Demand Governor Jim Justice and Secretary of State Mac Warner to protect
our health and our right to vote safely by taking action on these two
issues:
* Mailing Absentee Ballot Applications - A county by county decision
on this issue does not guarantee the benefit of an application to every
registered voter regardless of where they live and their ability to
access or use the online portal. Absentee ballot applications should be
sent to all registered voters as was done for the primary election.
Contact the Governor and the Secretary of State and tell them that their
constituents deserve to have the same chance to vote safely in November
as they had in June.
* Drop Boxes for Ballot Delivery - At the same time as elections
officials are projecting--and seeing--an increase in the number of
voters choosing to vote absentee, internal policy changes within the
USPS have led to delays in mail delivery that may result in absentee
ballots not being delivered on time. The Secretary of State's office has
determined that the use of drop boxes don't comply with the allowable
delivery methods for absentee ballots. However the Governor could issue
an executive order authorizing the use of secure drop boxes. Voters
shouldn't have to rely on the USPS or go into the Court House during
working hours to make sure their absentee ballot arrives on time.
Please contact the Governor and Secretary of State now to ensure that
our democracy can function during this pandemic.
Governor Jim Justice - call (304) 558-2000 or email governor(a)wv.gov [6]
Secretary of State Mac Warner - call (304) 558-6000 or email
mwarner(a)wvsos.gov [7]
_Want to do more?_ Contact your legislators [8] and commissioners [9]
and ask them to advocate for their constituents on these issues and
ensure we can safely vote by mail in November.
Thanks for doing your part to defend our democracy and empower West
Virginia voters.
Sincerely,
_Julie_
Julie Archer
Vice President
PS: Please remember these important election dates and deadlines:
* September 18, 2020 - County clerks will begin mailing out Absentee
Ballots.
* October 13, 2020 - Voter Registration Deadline
* October 21 - October 31, 2020 - Early Voting at the county
courthouse, annex or designated community voting location during normal
business hours and Saturdays 9AM to 5PM.
* October 28, 2020 - Deadline for Absentee Ballot Requests. Absentee
ballot applications received after October 28, even if postmarked,
cannot be accepted by law. (Note: In a letter to the Secretary of State
[10], the General Counsel for the USPS recommended voters submit their
request early enough to be received 15 days before the election (October
19). The letter also recommended voters mail their completed ballots a
week before the state's due date.)
* November 2, 2020 - Deadline to hand-deliver Absentee Ballot to
County Clerk's office. Choose this option if you don't want to use the
mail to return your ballot. (Note: No person may hand deliver more than
two absentee ballots and any person hand delivering an absentee ballot
is required to certify that he or she has not examined or altered the
ballot(s).)
* November 3, 2020 - General Election Day
* November 4, 2020 - Absentee Ballots mailed, but without a postmark
accepted.
* November 9, 2020 - (Canvass) - Absentee Ballot postmarked by
Election Day accepted if received by start of Canvass.
For more voting information visit GoVoteWV.com [11].
Links:
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[1]
https://wvoter-owned.org/civicrm?civiwp=CiviCRM&q=civicrm/mailing/url&a…
[2]
https://wvoter-owned.org/civicrm?civiwp=CiviCRM&q=civicrm/mailing/url&a…
[3]
https://wvoter-owned.org/civicrm?civiwp=CiviCRM&q=civicrm/mailing/url&a…
[4]
https://wvoter-owned.org/civicrm?civiwp=CiviCRM&q=civicrm/mailing/url&a…
[5]
https://wvoter-owned.org/civicrm?civiwp=CiviCRM&q=civicrm/mailing/url&a…
[6]
https://wvoter-owned.org/civicrm?civiwp=CiviCRM&q=civicrm/mailing/url&a…
[7]
https://wvoter-owned.org/civicrm?civiwp=CiviCRM&q=civicrm/mailing/url&a…
[8]
https://wvoter-owned.org/civicrm?civiwp=CiviCRM&q=civicrm/mailing/url&a…
[9]
https://wvoter-owned.org/civicrm?civiwp=CiviCRM&q=civicrm/mailing/url&a…
[10]
https://wvoter-owned.org/civicrm?civiwp=CiviCRM&q=civicrm/mailing/url&a…
[11]
https://wvoter-owned.org/civicrm?civiwp=CiviCRM&q=civicrm/mailing/url&a…
