Protecting the Right to Vote: Campaign Launched to Inform West Virginians About Potential Voter Registration Cancellations

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 11, 2024

Contact: Julie Archer, (304) 610-9094, julie@wvoter-owned.org

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Citizens for Clean Elections (WVCCE) has announced a new campaign to inform West Virginia residents that they may have been removed from the state’s voter registration rolls. This initiative comes in response to recent actions by the Secretary of State’s office, which has reportedly removed 400,000 names from voter registration lists since the 2016 general election.

“We are deeply concerned about the scale of these removals and their potential impact on our democratic process,” said Julie Archer, Voting Rights Coordinator. “Our goal is to ensure that every eligible West Virginian has the opportunity to exercise their right to vote in the upcoming elections.”

The campaign includes:

• A statewide public awareness effort using social media, local news outlets, and community partnerships.
• A targeted mailing campaign to reach voters directly.

As part of our outreach efforts, WVCCE sent its first mailer on August 26 to 14,475 purged voters. A second mailer is landing in people’s mailboxes today, September 11. These mailers provide crucial information about the voter roll purge and guide recipients on how to check their registration status, confirm their eligibility, and re-register if necessary.

WVCCE emphasizes checking voter registration status well before the 2024 general election. We recommend that all West Virginia residents verify their status, even if they believe they are currently registered.

“The removal of 400,000 names from our voter rolls is unprecedented,” added Julie Archer, Voting Rights Coordinator. “We want to ensure that no eligible voter is caught off guard when they go to the polls.” 

To check your voter registration status, visit www.GoVoteWV.com or call or text 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683) to speak with a trained Election Protection volunteer, who can answer questions about voter registration deadlines, requesting absentee or mail-in ballots, or how to vote in-person during early voting or on Election Day. The deadline to register to vote in this year’s elections is October 15. 

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About WVCCE: West Virginia Citizens for Clean Elections is a non-partisan coalition dedicated to increasing transparency in elections, reducing the influence of big money in politics, and ensuring fair and accessible voting for all West Virginians.