WEST LIBERTY — West Virginia Secretary of State Betty Ireland said state statute prohibits elections officials from requiring voters to show identification at the poll unless they are voting for the first time since registering, but poll workers in Ohio County are instructed to ask for identification if they do not recognize the voter.
In addition, all those taking part in early voting at the courthouse always are asked to show a photo ID, said Toni Chieffalo, Ohio County coordinator of elections.
Chieffalo noted that the voter isn’t turned away if they do not produce a photo ID. She said they are allowed to vote as long as their name is listed in the poll book.
“When they sign the poll slip, the signature can be compared to the signature that is listed with the name in the book,” Chieffalo said. “If the signature is way off, the ballot could be challenged.”
Speaking at West Liberty State College on Thursday, Ireland asked students their thoughts on making voter identification mandatory at the polls.
She was taken aback when someone in attendance — an Ohio County resident — said she already is asked to show identification at the polls and has been for the past seven years since she moved to the state.
There was at least one time when she forgot her identification, the student said, and had to go home to get it and return.
Such is the reason Ireland said she opposes requiring voter identification in the state. The voter often won’t return if not permitted to vote, while many others — such as senior citizens, poorer residents and the handicapped — may not have a driver’s license.
“You can tell I have a bias against requiring identification,” Ireland told the students, adding that the state’s registration system is highly reliable and already guards against voter fraud. “I would rather take a small chance on someone not being who they are than for someone not to vote.”
Ireland said present state law does not require a voter to show a photo ID at the polls — except when casting a ballot for the first time at their polling location.
Often these people have registered to vote by mail, and the photo identification is needed to match the address listed in the poll book with the person.
“If Ohio County has questions, they should give the Secretary of State’s Office a call,” Ireland said. “It is unlawful for a voter to have to produce an ID to vote in West Virginia.”
Chieffalo said she would contact Ireland’s office.
Elections officials in other local counties say they do not require photo identification from voters unless it is their first time voting.
“If a poll worker doesn’t know the person, they may ask to see identification,” said Brooke County Clerk Sylvia Benzo. “But it is a small county, and usually someone in the polling place knows them.”
Wetzel County Clerk Carol Haught concurred.
“We do not have to ask for ID unless the person is voting for the first time,” she said. “Asking for ID is prohibited by statute.”
Tyler County Clerk Lora Thomas also said, “The law doesn’t allow us to ask for identification.”
Elections officials in Hancock and Marshall counties could not be reached for comment Thursday.
