R
egistered voters interested in running for public office in 2026 can now register for the upcoming May 12 Primary Election.
Those interested in running for office must file on or between Monday, Jan.12, and Saturday, Jan. 31. Those candidates running for statewide and legislative offices, state executive committee, offices to be filled by voters in more than one county, and judicial offices (excluding magistrates) must file with the Secretary of State's Office.
Candidates running for offices to be filled by voters in a single county, including county commission, magistrate, and district-level political party executive committees, must file with the county clerk. The Kanawha County Clerk's Office is located at 415 Quarrier St. in Charleston. A directory of all 55 West Virginia county clerks can be found at this link.
Candidates may file in person or by mail. Certificates of Announcements mailed to the county clerk or the West Virginia Secretary of State must be postmarked by the U.S Postal Service on or before Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026. Filing fees are required to be paid at the time the filing is made or the submission will be rejected. Candidates whose claimed political party affiliations or residence address do not match their official voter registration records are subject to rejection.
The Secretary of State's office offers "A Running for Office Guide," which can be accessed at this link.
More information on elections in West Virginia can be found at GoVoteWV.com.
