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By STEVEN ALLEN ADAMS
For The Intelligencer
CHARLESTON -- The COVID-19 pandemic has made it harder for older voters or voters with pre-existing medical condition to go out to the polls, but new rules put in place prior to the June 9 primary still allow voters to request a mail-in absentee ballot for the Nov. 3 general election.
Secretary of State Mac Warner said the emergency rule put in place allowing all voters to request an absentee ballot citing COVID-19 as a valid medical excuse is still in effect, giving all registered voters another option to exercise their voting power.
Voters can request a mail-in absentee ballot three different ways. First, a voter can simply visit the offices of their local county clerk and fill out the absentee ballot request form. Second, a voter can go to GoVoteWV.com, the Secretary of State's webpage dedicated to the 2020 general election. You can click on the red button marked "Absentee Voting" to review absentee voting information and download an absentee ballot application.
On the application under section 4, the voter must checkmark the box that says "Illness, injury or other medical reason which keeps me confined" as the excuse to receive the absentee ballot during the pandemic state of emergency. The voter can send the application to their county clerk by mail, fax, or email. Contact information for your local county clerk can be found at GoVoteWV.com.
Voters also have a third option to request an absentee ballot that doesn't involve printing, writing, mailing, or faxing. The Secretary of State's Office introduced the online Absentee Application Portal.
By going to GoVoteWV.com and clicking the "Request a 2020 General Election Absentee Ballot" button, a voter can answer some questions and request an absentee ballot.