WEST virginia Legislature

2021 regular session

Introduced

House Bill 2602

By Delegates Mallow, Conley, Forsht, Bruce, Horst, Miller, Sypolt, Pritt, Nestor and Mandt

[Introduced February 19, 2021; Referred to the Committee on Political Subdivisions then the Judiciary]

A BILL to amend and reenact §3-1-31 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to requiring all local and state special elections to be held on the days and hours of general or primary or state elections; and providing an exception for run-off elections.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS AND DEFINITIONS.

§3-1-31. Days and hours of elections.

General elections shall be held in the several election precincts of the state on the Tuesday next after the first Monday in November of each even year. Primary and special elections shall be held on the days provided by law therefor: Provided, That beginning July 1, 2021, all state and local special elections shall be held on the days and hours of general or primary state elections: Provided, however, That run-off elections may be held on days as determined by the local and state governments.

At every primary, general, or special election the polls shall be opened in each precinct on the day of such the election at six-thirty o’clock in the forenoon and be closed at seven-thirty o'clock in the evening.

Note: The purpose of this bill is to require local and state elections to be held at times of general, primary, or state-wide elections. The bill provides an exception for run-off elections.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.